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IV. 



From the Land OThe Leal 



BEING A BOOK 



Automatically and Inspirationally written between the dates of 
March 15th, 1913, and March 15th, 1914. 



By 
LILLIE McGINNIS 



Consisting of the experiences of all classes, after awakening to 
consciousness after the change of death. 



/ 



4<? 



COPYRIGHT 
1915 

By 
LILLIE McGINNIS 



JAN l/lbio 



©CI.A418488 



Dedicated 

To Those of the Spirit World 

Who have caused these messages to 
be given for the enlightenment 
of the people of earth. 



CONTENTS 



A Suicide Chapter I 

A Miller Chapter II 

An Insane Man Chapter III 

A Mother's Transition Chapter IV 

A Murderer Chapter V 

Longing for Home Chapter VI 

A Little Guide Chapter VII 

A Gypsy Chapter VIII 

An Infidel Chapter IX 

A Preacher and a Drunkard. . .Chapter X 

An Indian Chief Chapter XI 

A Euler Chapter XII 

A Priest Chapter XIII 

A Newsboy Chapter XIV 

A Bachelor Chapter XV 

Temperance and Suffrage .... Chapter XVI 

The Searchlight of Truth Chapter XVII 

A Patriot .Chapter XVIII 

An Irishman Chapter XIX 

A Doctor Chapter XX 

A Eobber Chapter XXI 

What Does It Mean to You? . . .Chapter XXII 

A President Chapter XXIII 

A Scrub Woman Chapter XXIV 

A Mother Chapter XXV 

A Father Chapter XXVI 

A Mormon Chapter XXVII 

A Queen Chapter XXVIII 



A Hindu Chapter XXIX 

A Farmer Chapter XXX 

A Dreamer Chapter XXXI 

An Idiot Chapter XXXII 

A Fanatic Chapter XXXIII 

A Steam Shovel Man Chapter XXXIV 

Peg ' the Poorhouse Chapter XXXV 

A Mother Chapter XXXVI 

A Society Leader Chapter XXXVII 

A Consumptive Chapter XXXVIII 

A Negro Slave Chapter XXXIX 

A Slave Girl Chapter XL 

A Child of the Streets Chapter v XLI 

A Suffragette Chapter XLII 

A Methodist Minister Chapter' XLIII 

A Spirit Signal Chapter XLIV 

A Saloonkeeper Chapter XLV 

A < ' Little Sister of the Poor ' ' . Chapter XLVI 

A Dream Chapter XLVII 

His Last Message Chapter XLVIII 

Message from the Guide Chapter XLIX 



PREFACE 



i i A SK and it shall be given you, seek and ye 
a! shall find, knock and it shall be opened un- 
to you, for everyone that asketh receiveth, and he 
that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it 
shall be opened. ' ' 

The writer of this book does not claim to be a 
medium, only a seeker of truth, and has always 
been interested in anything that could throw any 
light whatever on a future existence. In inves- 
tigating spiritualism about seven years ago, she 
became thoroughly convinced there was something 
in it. Lack of opportunity prevented her from 
consulting many mediums, but she read everything 
she could get along this line. She was determined 
to find out for herself if it is true that our friends 
who have died can communicate. 

About three years ago she received her first 
communication through her own forces. It was 
given her on a dial planchette, the same that 
was employed by Prof. Robert Hare in his famous 
investigations, and was this: "I have answered 
your prayer for insight into the spirit world/ ' 
She was, of course, greatly pleased and continued 
communicating in this way for some time. One 
day, while sitting at her machine sewing, without 
a thought of anything of this in her mind, she 
picked up a pencil and paper lying near and re- 
ceived her first communication in writing. It was 
from a relative she had never seen— -who had been 



in spirit for over thirty years — telling her if she 
would sit in silence, alone, one afternoon a week, 
she and others would write for her. She gave up 
the planchette then, as the writing was much more 
satisfactory and more rapid. 

She wrote in this manner for some time, till she 
was thoroughly convinced the writings could 
only come from individuals out of the body, as 
they claimed, for things were told her that oc- 
curred in her old home in Ohio that she did not 
know anything about, till later letters came veri- 
fying them. 

Imagine her surprise when she was told that 
a band had been formed whose members would 
bring spirit individuals to her to write the experi- 
ences of their awakening into spirit life. That it 
would reveal conditions of life on the other side. 
And it was to be published in book form to en- 
lighten others as it would enlighten her, and would 
be as interesting to her as reading something she 
had never read. She wrote so rapidly she could 
not thoroughly understand it until it was finished, 
and she read it over again. If she became too 
deeply interested while writing and wrote more 
slowly the pencil would stop. 

Later, after all the experiences had been given, 
the poems were given her, and she has placed some 
of them in the book. She never wrote a word for 
publication or thought of doing such a thing until 
she received this, which she leaves to the reader, 
whom she hopes will judge it, not by its faults or 
literary worth, but by the good it may contain. 

Lillie McGinnis. 



INTRODUCTION 



WE, the guides that have been drawn to earth 
by the law of attraction and our own will- 
ingness to again try to do some good on the earth 
plane, have formed a band for the protection of 
the one through whom the spirits have chosen to 
write. We have named this band the "Washing- 
ton Band," and will bring the spirits here to tell 
their experiences in their own way. We wish to 
bring spirits from all the varied walks of life — 
from the highest of your land to those that were 
sunk in the lowest depths of depravity. We shall 
not give names, but many will be recognized. The 
first spirit that we bring came here by her own 
hand and she will tell her experience in her own 
way in Chapter I. 



CHAPTER I 

I A SPIRIT, will tell you a story that is true, 
y though stranger than fiction. It is of a home 
where all joys of home were absent, I, a woman 
who had all the comforts and luxuries that I 
wished, yet having all these, came into the un- 
known by my own hand. I want to tell the world 
that I repent of this act, and in so doing I com- 
mence my own progression. I was a writer of 
fiction, commencing to write at an early age, and 
by too close application to this work I weakened 
myself, both physically and mentally. To relieve 
my severe headaches, I commenced to take opiates 
that were eventually my undoing. Strange as it 
may seem, while I was under the influence of drugs 
I could write better than before I ever took them. 
I soon found this out and did not hesitate to use 
them and keep myself under their influence. I did 
not realize what I was doing until too late to over- 
come the habit I had formed. I at last became so 
despondent that I took an overdose, caring not 
whether I came out of it or not, for I only wanted 
oblivion. 

What was my surprise to awaken and see my 
body in its ghastliness. I wondered at this and 
thought that the drug I had taken was causing me 
to have horrible dreams instead of the forgetful- 
ness I craved. But I turned from the sight and 
walked right through the walls out into the at- 
mosphere, which was so dense I at first could dis- 
tinguish nothing. Then a stranger came to me 
and, speaking kindly, said: "lama guide to take 



12 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

newly-born spirits to the homes they have pre- 
pared for themselves while on earth.' ' I went 
with him willingly, for I now understood I had 
"died" and I expected to find a mansion much 
more beautiful than my earthly home. What was 
my surprise to find a very poor cottage with noth- 
ing attractive about it. "Must I live here?" I 
asked. "Yes, my child, no place else is open to 
you now ; and you must live here, alone, until you 
realize what you have done. I can only come and 
visit you. You will have to learn life's lessons 
for yourself." 

I was rebellious for a time and thought none 
heard my cries of anguish. How I wished myself 
back in my beautiful earthly home, but I could 
not go. I had to stay in the poor cottage that had 
nothing of beauty or even of comfort about it. I 
wondered if this could be hell, but no fire burned 
me. My torture of remorse and despair, however, 
punished me more than fire could have done. Then 
I tried to quit thinking of myself, and looked 
around to see if I could find anyone, for I could 
endure the loneliness no longer. How I prayed, 
but all was blank; no answer came to me in the 
silence. At last, however, the answer seemed to 
come from my innermost being: "Whatsoever a 
man soweth so also must he reap. ' ' My next ques- 
tion was, "Must I endure this throughout all eter- 
nity V 9 I really expected an answer in the affirma- 
tive, but to my great joy the answer that was 
whispered by the still, small voice was, "You can 
yet redeem yourself; work out of this condition, 
and in the coming ages be as happy as those who 
have never sinned and suffered." 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 13 

Such an answer I had not expected and it was 
a great comfort to me. I then tried to make my 
home a little pleasanter and I soon found I could 
do so. The stranger who brought me to this place 
again visited me, and seeing the change in my 
surroundings, knew that I had made my first step 
in advancement. I then asked for a friend that 
had been gone from the earth for some time and I 
wondered if I might see her. I was told that she 
would soon come to see me. My friend was a 
woman that had lived a good, pure life and did a 
great amount of good in the vicinity in which she 
lived, although having a very humble home and 
little means at her command. She came to see me 
and took me to her own home here. Then full con- 
sciousness dawned on me and I understood life as 
I never had before. I thought, oh, that the day 
may dawn on earth when all will be taught! By 
your real life only will you profit in the eternal 
now. For your real self is the one that no one 
but yourself and the angels know. I had every- 
thing to live for had I only used my wealth and 
talents to help others. Then I would have been 
happier there and would have builded better for 
this life. Instead of doing that, when I came here 
I had to begin at the beginning and do the things 
I should have done there. 

I went back to my own poor home with the 
determination to improve and use every faculty 
I possessed to work myself up to a condition of 
peace if not happiness. This was what my guard- 
ian angel was waiting for. He assured me I was 
no stranger to him, for he had been watching over 
me for many years. He now asked me if I would 



14 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

care for a sister woman that had just come into 
the spirit world in such a sad condition that she 
could not even help herself. I assured him that I 
would be pleased to do so. She came and I waited 
on and cared for the poor, depraved spirit until 
she came to a realization of where she was and 
what she had to do. I helped her all in my power 
and told her all I had learned. We decided to 
live together and help every poor soul we could 
find. This decision comforted me greatly. Then 
my guide and teacher came again and told us he 
would bring the spirits to our home that needed 
our care. We now found we could enlarge and 
beautify our home in a way that was very pleas- 
ing to us. The work here is not done as it is on 
earth, but in a much more pleasant way, without 
any fatigue whatever. Servants here, as they are 
termed on earth, are unknown. Here the only way 
people can get help is by their own willingness to 
be of service, knowing that by helping those 
weaker than themselves they are improving them- 
selves. They are not looked upon as are the help- 
ers of earth, but as individuals to pattern after. 
All my sorrows and suffering I cannot tell, for 
it would not be understood, but light dawned on me 
at last, and while I am not yet happy, I have found 
the way that leads to joy unutterable. I must 
first finish the work through another which I 
should have done when on earth. I will again 
impress my thoughts on another brain and use his 
hand to write a book that none who have ever read 
my books on earth can doubt comes from the same 
individual. By this means I shall reach that hap- 
piness that I always longed for, but never attained. 



CHAPTER II 

I WANT to tell my experiences. I lived in a 
little town in British Columbia. I was a miller 
by trade, and a hard-working man. I was married 
and had a good home, with three bright children. 
I came here owing to an accident in the mill. 
I do not know how it happened, for I was killed 
instantly. I wondered at the strange sensation I 
experienced, I felt so light and comfortable. I did 
not know where I was, for I could not yet see my 
mangled body. I remembered what I had been 
doing, but knew I was not now in the mill. I 
thought: "Is it possible I have gone suddenly in- 
sane V Then I thought, "No, it cannot be that, 
for I experienced such a sense of peace and con- 
tentment. ' ' I seemed to be in a tropical country, 
such a feeling of warmth and comfort possessed 
me. I could distinguish nothing as yet, for all this 
occurred in a few moments. Then, all at once, a 
vision of great beauty burst upon my view. I 
thought: "I am surely dreaming, or what can 
have happened to me!" Then a face I knew in 
childhood looked upon me, and the person said: 
i ' Dear Frank, can you not realize what is the mat- 
ter! You know I have been here for years.' ' 
Then, as in a flash, I understood, and I asked: "Is 
it possible that I am dead?" "You have left 
your body, brother, but are not dead," he said. 
"I am alive and you recognize your brother that 



16 FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL 

you played with in childhood and always thought 
of as dead." 

I had never thought much about a future life, 
being content and happy, but I now understood I 
had entered it without a moment's warning. 
" There was an accident, brother, as I will now 
show you. Be brave, for you have much to en- 
dure." I was now taken to the mill and there 
looked on my mangled body. My first thought was 
of my loved ones. i ' Oh, God ! comfort them ! ' ' was 
my cry. I was not allowed to go home, for I was 
not yet able to stand this ordeal and it was merci- 
fully spared me. I was told of the great help I 
could still be to my family, and this comforted me. 
I carried a life insurance and my children were 
almost at an age that they could take care of them- 
selves, for we had given them a good education. 
So I did not have to grieve over leaving my family 
in want, as many do. 

I was, after a time, taken to my earth home, 
and there learned much that I had never thought 
could be possible. I could now see my family as 
I could not while on earth with them. My wife 
that I had loved and for whom was my greatest 
grief was happy to know I was out of the way. My 
children really loved me, but the sorrows of youth 
are not lasting and for this I was pleased. But, 
oh ! the sorrow of now knowing how bitterly I had 
been deceived in the wife for whom I had slaved 
and whom I had denied nothing that was in my 
power to grant. I cannot help but think I shall 
some day see her suffer in like manner for the man 
she loves and whom she had loved for years, and 
had met secretly, and who will in time deceive her 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 17 

as she did me. I cannot as yet forgive her, but in ^ 
time I hope I may. I am learning much of this 
life, the beautiful home of the soul, where we can 
see clearly and cannot be deceived. 



CHAPTEE III 

I AM a man who has suffered the tortures of the 
damned. My home is in Ohio. I will not give 
the name of the city, for my family are all living 
there and I do not want them to recognize me. 
Some day they will have to know all, for no life's 
pages are closed. I am not going to tell of my 
earth life, for many would recognize me then. 
I will only tell of my experiences here. 

In the first place, I came here in such a condi- 
tion of depravity that it is beyond description. I 
made it for myself and blame no one. I had 
wealth and an honorable name at one time, but lost 
both. Once started, I went the downward road 
fast, yet I was at an age when I should have been 
preparing myself for death. Instead, I was 
placed in an insane asylum. My family could not 
take care of me at home. I came into this life in 
the same condition. I have suffered as I hope 
none others may. Every act of my misspent life 
has been gone over and must be made right. This 
is no easy matter, and I. do not know how it will 
be accomplished; but I am assured ways will be 
found so that I can redeem the past and gain hap- 
piness. I have been here for more than five years 
and just in the past year have I realized my con- 
dition. I only know I have suffered tortures that 
the body knows naught of. Now I am anxious to 
work in any way the teachers and helpers here 
wish me. They tell me writing this will be of 
benefit and help me to progress. 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 19 

I was not considered a bad man by my asso- 
ciates and I was a devout Catholic ; but the wick- 
edness was within. I wronged many, but covered 
it up by charity, for I was always willing to give 
to any good cause. I did some good deeds, but 
these were overbalanced. It was my own con- 
science that condemned me, but I would not heed. 
Finally I became unconscious of good, and only 
thought and talked of evil. Then it was that I 
was placed in an insane asylum. 

I have now learned that I drew spirits around 
me of like character, and we held high carnival. 
After I came here they were still my companions, 
for I did not realize I had made any change. I 
came to a realization of my condition by coming 
to a medium. She was one I had tried to wrong, 
but did not succeed. She only thought of me in 
pity ; she did not want me near her, but told me to 
go and sin no more. Since then I have tried to 
follow her advice, but it is harder to change for the 
better here than on earth, for the opportunities of 
the evil-minded are greater, as are also the oppor- 
tunities for doing good when once one gets started 
right. I have now made the start and all the 
demons of hell (for there is a hell, and I have 
been in it, or perhaps it would be more correct to 
say it had been in me) cannot change me again. I 
have much to learn and much to make right, but 
eternity is mine and I shall succeed. 

I have told this in the hope of doing some good, 
for i ( as a man thinketh so is he, whatever he may 
prof ess.' ' I am on the right road at last and this 
gives me a contentment that I have never known. 
I have ceased to pray and want to work for and 



20 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

warn and help all I can reach. I want to learn of 
this life everlasting about which I know so little. 
All I ever learned did me no good. Prayers of 
pope or priest are of no avail. No Saviour can 
J wash away your sins. You must wash away the 
stains yourself. This I now know I can do, so I 
will go and commence the work that is laid out 
for me to do. 



CHAPTER IV 



a motheb's tbansition 



IN the poorest part of a city 
A white-faced woman lay. 
The hand of death had touched her, 
She knew she could not stay. 

Not stay to rear her children, 
Which always was her prayer, 

Till they were self-supporting 
And would not need her care. 

The boy was but a youngster, 

The girl was only eight. 
The things they'd do for mother 

Would certainly be great. 

Soft through the room they tiptoed, 
Their eyes were moist with tears ; 

For want had made them sadly 
Much older than their years. 

The truth had come to Willie, 
His face turned old and gray; 

A man's strong heart beat bravely 
In a little boy that day. 

He stood by his mother's bedside 
And saw her thin, pale face, 

And said, "Now, don't worry, mother, 
I 'm going to take your place. ' ' 



22 FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL 

" Trust me to care for Nellie, 

So do not worry more, 
And won't yon e'er watch o'er ns 

From yonr home on the other shore?' 

These words gave her more comfort 
Than anght she'd ever had — 

The dear, strong words of Willie, 
Her own brave, little lad. 

"I'll surely watch my darlings, 

I'll help you all I can. 
Do not forget me, Willie, 

When you grow to be a man. 

' ' Don 't ever enter a barroom ; 

That cursed your father's life. 
And Willie, oh be faithful 

To the one you make your wife. ' ' 

The end came then so peaceful, 
Like sweet, refreshing sleep. 

Her promise to her children 
She felt that she could keep. 

The spirit of that mother 
Watched o'er them all their life. 

The man was a nation's hero 
And Nellie a noble wife. 



CHAPTER V 

I AM a man that committed the worst crime 
there is, for I murdered my own mother. I 
was an only son and had every advantage that 
wealth could procure. I went through college and 
it was there I got into bad company. I learned to 
drink and gamble; and it was but a few years 
until I had lost all respect for myself and family. 
My mother was a widow. My father, who was a 
Confederate soldier, was killed in the war. 

I loved my mother and only sister devotedly, but 
such is the curse of drink that while I was under 
its influence I would do and say things that, at 
other times, I would be ashamed to even think of. 
I came home one night drunk, and wanted my 
mother to deed all her property over to me. This 
she would not do. I followed her up to her room, 
insisting that she do this. She started down the 
stairs again to keep out of my way, when I gave 
her a push that sent her headlong. Her skull was 
fractured and she died almost instantly. This 
terrible sight sobered me at once, and my first 
thought was of self-preservation. Running into a 
neighbor 's I told them my mother had accidentally 
fallen down stairs and I feared had killed herself. 
My actions caused suspicion, and I was tried, 
convicted and hanged. 

We will not dwell on this, for such things can 
be read every day. I wish to tell how I came to 
consciousness here. I realized I was to pay a 



2A FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

just penalty for my crime. I believed I would 
continue to exist, but had no idea of what I would 
experience. I did not expect the freedom that I 
found. My first feeling was one of thirst for 
liquor. A man I had known came to me and told 
me he would take me to a place where I could get 
a drink. I did not know I was dead, for the mem- 
ory of all that had occurred had left me, and I 
did not even think of how the man that I knew 
to be dead could be with me. Mother, home, and 
sister were forgotten. I only wanted a drink. 
We went to a barroom that I frequented and where 
I had spent many a dollar and we began a debauch 
that you could not think possible. I thought I 
was drinking in the same way I always had, but 
I was under the influence of liquor as soon as I 
entered the barroom ; the fumes, or odor, did this. 

I soon found I could influence men to drink, and 
I receive the same effects that they experienced. 
This led me to wonder what had happened to me ; 
but I was in a dazed condition. I thought it was 
the effects of drink and I would be all right when 
I sobered up. This I did not want to do. I stayed 
in this condition, as near as I can remember, about 
eight years. Then all at once, like a flash of light- 
ning, it all came back to me — my mother's murder, 
my trial and conviction, and all that occurred on 
the day I was hanged. I wonder if anyone can 
imagine my feelings? 

I now realized I was out of my body, but how 
can I find words to tell of my remorse! I was 
taken to the home of a man I had influenced to 
drink, and there looked on the sorrow of his wife 
and little children. I there made a vow I would 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 25 

never again be the means of causing them to suf- 
fer through my accursed appetite. I have kept 
that vow and have tried every means in my power 
to influence the other spirits to let him alone. He 
does not know why at times he cannot let liquor 
alone, but it is spirit obsession and nothing else, v 
Now I want to tell you here that neither is en- 
tirely to blame. The man who drinks does not 
know what influences him and the spirits are in a 
drunken, dazed condition and do not know what 
they are doing, only that they are satisfying their 
own appetites. Until they realize what they are 
doing they will keep on. But missionary spirits 
are giving their time to this work and are accom- 
plishing much, but it takes time and patience. The 
only way such as these may rid themselves of 
obsessing spirits is by staying away from saloons 
and all places where liquor is sold. 

I want to tell you of another strange thing. 
My mother was at once taken to my father's beau- 
tiful home. She understood she had entered eter- 
nal life, but did not know the cause. She was a 
good, pure woman, and now that she had joined 
my father her happiness was complete. She did 
not know she could return to earth, but thought, as 
many do who belong to the churches, that she was 
in heaven. Though finding it more beautiful and 
delightful than she expected, and different in 
many ways, she was content. My father knew, 
but was not yet ready to tell her anything of this 
life until she was able to bear it. 

At the time of my awakening to full conscious- 
ness, my first thought was of my mother. Would 
it be possible for me to see her, I wondered. My 



26 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

father came to me then and said he would bring my 
mother to see me. How I longed for, yet dreaded, 
the meeting! But good angels took care of her 
and explained it all, and she met me with the same 
loving greeting she always gave me. 

I wondered if the time ever would come when I 
could be happy. I am at least in a hopeful frame 
of mind and those wiser than I assure me that in 
the future by my own efforts I shall be as happy 
as they. I have just begun to realize the advan- 
tages of this beautiful country. As soon as you 
make up your mind to do good the opportunities 
are given you. You are not hampered as in earth 
life, for ' * where there 's a will there 's a way. ' ' No 
limit is placed upon you. Now I have told you of 
my life up to the present. What the future holds 
for me I do not know, but rest assured it will 
never be downward, but up into the heights as far 
as I am able to climb. Knowing it all rests with 
myself, I shall be careful, and always do the best 
I can. 



CHAPTER VI 

LONGING FOE HOME 

I AM tired of earth, with its sorrow and care; 
Its burdens seem greater than I can bear. 
I want to go home. 
I have done but little, and yet I know 
We all must reap whate'er we sow, 
And be content. 

I shall gladly welcome the messenger pale 
Who comes to lead me beyond the veil, 

Where loving friends await — 
Where father and mother with outstretched hand 
Will say, "Welcome, my child, we understand — 

You have reached a haven at last. ' ' 

My tired body I shall leave behind 

When I reach a sphere that is more divine, 

And I shall then be free — 
Shall be as free as the wind that blows, 
With none of the cares such as earth life knows. 

Oh ! I shall be happy then ! 

I shall watch my loved ones from the other side, 
And oft be near them to help and guide 

O'er roughest places here. 
And when they, too, shall cross the bar 
I shall stand at the lovely gates ajar 

And give them welcome home. 



CHAPTER VII 

I AM a sunbeam of light and gladness, 
Shining on all I may reach with my light. 
I am a spirit that knows no sadness, 
Only the joys of heaven so bright. 

I am a ray in the darkest pathway, 

And shine with a light that never grows dim. 
I am doing the work I dearly delight in, 

Cheering the hearts in sorrow and sin. 

I am only a little girl, but want to tell you the 
good a little girl may do in this life. I came here 
when I was too young to remember much of my 
earthly home life. I only know I felt pain and all 
at once it was gone and I opened my eyes in such a 
beautiful place. Lovely women and little children 
about my own age of three years were around me. 
I went to a woman I loved at sight. She took me 
in her arms and told me she was my mother. l ' My 
mamma is not as beautiful as you," I told her, 
"but I love her, too." She told me the one I had 
always loved as mamma was my own auntie who 
had taken care of me always, for she herself came 
to this beautiful place and had to leave me behind 
when I was born. She explained things to me and 
I could understand. She told me how, during all 
my short earth life, she had watched over me, how 
she loved auntie for taking such good care of me, 
and how she would grieve that I was taken from 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 29 

her; but that we would go soon and comfort her, 
even though she could not see us. This was also 
explained to me and I wanted to go at once. 
Mother said I must wait until she thought best. 
She said she would show me many beautiful places. 
I wish I could describe the beauty and grandeur 
that I have seen. Mother said we must now go 
home and see if there is anyone else there I knew. 
There was a man waiting for us at the door of a 
lovely home. Mother said, as he took me in his 
arms, "This is your father, dear, that came here 
about a year after I did and left you an orphan ; 
but your aunt and uncle took our places and you 
never felt our loss. But we are glad to have you 
with us, for now our home is complete. We wish 
to teach you ourselves, and you can learn very 
rapidly. ' ' Oh, how happy I was ! It seemed like 
the fairy stories my earth mamma had read to me, 
for everything I wanted I seemed to get. I wanted 
to go to the earth again, after a time, to see my 
old home. Mother went with me, and how natural 
everything looked. My earth mamma, or auntie 
I will now call her, looked so sad. I called out 
to her as loudly as I could, but she never looked at 
me. I asked mother what was the matter. Then 
she told me that all could not see us ; in fact, very 
few could; but that we would work over auntie 
and see if it would not be possible for her some 
day to see us and know we were there. This we 
commenced to do, mother showing me how to use 
our magnetic forces and saying the way would 
be opened some day. We often went to her when 
she was alone, for she had no children of her own. 
She would start sometimes when I would touch 



30 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

her, and she would look all around. Then I would 
laugh, thinking she could see me, but I soon found 
she could not. 

This earth home of mine was in Buffalo, N. Y. 
One day a friend of auntie asked her to go to a 
spiritual meeting and told her about the messages 
that were given there. She went one Sunday and 
mother and I went with her. Oh, how lovely it 
was, for now we knew we could get word to her. 
The lady that gave the messages saw us and de- 
scribed us to auntie the first ones. How proud 
and happy I was ! I there met the little message 
guide of the lady and we became fast friends. I 
asked my mother if I could not do this work, too. 
I just knew at once that I could soon learn and the 
little guide said she would help me. Mother gave 
her permission and my work commenced. Oh, how 
I love it ! I am now about thirteen years old, but I 
have learned more than I would had I lived the 
allotted time of threescore and ten years on earth. 
So do not think when you lay the little bodies of 
your babes away that they will not grow up and 
learn as on earth. Even though born in the 
homes of the rich they are better off here, for here 
we never feel bodily pain and for us there is no 
suffering for sin. We are brought up in such an 
atmosphere of love that every want is satisfied. 
We learn what we are fitted for and then com- 
mence to work. 

I want to tell you now about how my auntie 
learned to see me. She was deeply interested in 
the messages that were given her and decided to 
investigate farther. She went to a trumpet medium 
and there we convinced her we were still living 



PROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL 31 

and that if she would help us by desiring medium- 
ship and give us a chance to work with her we 
could soon be seen by her clairvoyantly. We told 
her what we had been doing and that there were 
others who would come if the way was opened. 
We assured her that she could also lecture and 
give many beautiful truths to the world. Auntie 
has now been on the platform several years and 
I am her little message-bearer. I shall continue 
in this work until auntie comes here. Then I shall 
take up work here and keep on progressing. My 
wish is that everybody could be as happy as Lit- 
tle Sunbeam. 



CHAPTEE VIII 

I AM one that had no home on earth, for I am a 
gypsy and my home was in the forest. I was 
happy, as our people usually are, for it does not 
take much to satisfy a gypsy if she is good and 
true. We are happy if the sky is blue above us, 
and we have something to eat and covering for 
the night. I was with my parents when the event 
happened that took me out of my body. Being 
only a child in years, I got separated from them 
one day and became lost in the woods. I was not 
frightened, for I was at home among the trees, 
but the more I tried to find our camp the more 
completely was I bewildered. I became worn 
out and thought I would lie down and rest. I soon 
fell asleep. I cannot tell you of that night of 
horror, for I was carried off and at last murdered. 
I awakened in a beautiful country, and I thought 
I must have had a horrible dream. I looked 
around me, expecting to see our camp. I must be 
still lost, I thought, when a lady I had never seen 
approached me. She was of our own race and I 
went to meet her gladly, thinking she would take 
me to my parents and the rest of our camp. She 
told me we would join them presently, but she had 
much to tell me first. I went with her to a cottage 
in a garden of beautiful flowers, where the sun 
looked to be always shining and the sky always 
blue. She told me I was not in my body, but I 
was a spirit that could roam at will, and need fear 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 33 

none, for nothing could harm me now — that I 
would never have an ache or pain and could live 
always in the sunshine. We gypsies love the sun- 
shine and hate bad, rainy weather. I asked her 
if I could go to our tent. She told me I could and 
that she would go with me. 

My parents were wild with grief, for they could 
not find me, nor did they ever while on earth learn 
my fate. They thought I was stolen or killed by 
some other tribe. This was many years ago, and 
my family are all here now and understand. I 
have roamed over the earth and learned much. 
I now want to travel in the spheres of spirit. I 
have learned that to be happy we must work and 
help those we can, especially of our own race. I 
have stood in the tents of fortune tellers of our 
race and impressed on their minds the things they 
would tell, as I could see it, for the people that 
came to have their fortunes told. They would 
wonder how it could be possible for anyone to tell 
of their past so correctly and of their future that 
invariably came true. This, so far, has been the 
work that I love and have found very interesting. 

I was born a gypsy and such I shall always be 
throughout all time. We of our race can be as 
happy as any, but we could not be happy to be 
changed, for we are as nature made us. So it is 
with all races. We all can reach the same happy 
state without changing our natures. Nor do we 
wish to do so. Our opportunities for progression 
are the same as yours and all are equal in the 
sight of the God that created us. 



CHAPTEE IX 

I WANT to relate the experiences of one who 
had a happy life on earth. I had wealth and 
a beautiful home. I feared neither God nor man. 
I did not believe in a personal God and was called 
an infidel. I gloried in the title, for I could never 
accept the doctrines I was taught in childhood. 
In fact, they were repulsive to me from the time 
I began to understand life in any of its phases. I 
was successful, although I had many enemies, for 
I lectured against the false teachings of the ortho- 
doxy of my time. I see now I made many mis- 
takes, but I was honest, and I gave to the world 
what I believed to be the truth. I have found I 
fared better on coming here than many that criti- 
cized me the most severely. Had I only known 
what I have since found out, that I was right in 
most things I advocated, and yet that I was im- 
mortal, I should now be satisfied with my life- 
work on earth. I always said, in speaking of im- 
mortality, that I did not know. I now know I 
should have made it my business to find out by 
investigating, for it is a scientific fact that life 
is immortal, and that fact cannot be blotted out. 

My awakening in this life was a pleasant sensa- 
tion, although I could not at first understand. I 
was not expecting this experience. I thought 
death ended all. So I did not at first realize what 
had happened until friends I had known gathered 
around me, delighting in my confusion and telling 
me I had entered eternity. My first question was 



FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL 35 

to ask of God. They told me I had much to learn 
of conditions here and I must not become impa- 
tient, but take things calmly. I was very happy 
to know I still lived. I went with friends whom 
I loved and we spent many happy days in talking 
of our earth experiences. How pleased I was to 
find there was justice in this life, that a man got 
what he deserved and that he himself would see 
and pronounce it just. My life had not been with- 
out mistakes. These I was ready and anxious to 
rectify. I found what grand opportunities were 
before me to continue in my work, although I 
would have to change it in some respects. Let no 
one think that he has all the truth, for this is given 
to none ; but let him be happy if he has a part of it. 
Many have none at all when they enter here and 
must begin at the beginning to learn of this life. 
All come here with the same beliefs and opinions 
they had on earth, and it is according to what 
these are whether they will be benefited by them or 
not. There are comparatively few that have any 
knowledge of this life, but the day is fast ap- 
proaching when things will be different — when 
anyone who wishes can learn while still on earth 
of the beauties of eternal life. The means of 
gaining this knowledge at present is not popular 
enough to please the majority. If each soul could 
investigate for himself without his neighbors or 
friends being any the wiser there is scarcely one 
but would do so. But so great is the accursed 
spirit of pride and fear of public opinion that but 
a few stand up bravely for what they have found 
to be the truth, caring not for an accusing public, 
knowing they are right and fearing none. It is 



36 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

not those brave enough to defy public opinion who 
need the help of ministering spirits when they 
come here. They are well able to care for them- 
selves. It is the cowards who need help. Those 
who never dare give an opinion, fearing they will 
be criticized or lose an influential friend thereby. 
Never being afraid to change one's opinion and 
always reaching up after higher things is progress. 
This life is exactly what we make it. Existence on 
earth is the beginning of our conscious life. As 
we lived there, so shall we enter here. Whether 
we had faith in the church and belief in the creed 
or not, if we did the best we could, the future 
will be an open way of progress for us. 

Some on entering the spirit world are content 
for years to keep on going to church, singing 
praises and listening to one who still believes 
that in this manner only can he reach perfection. 
But I have found that those who subscribed to no 
creed are really the happiest; they are ready to 
accept things as they find them. They can more 
easily get a clearer understanding of the truth 
than can those who are bound by such narrow 
ideas. 

Only those who come here with open minds and 
correct lives are really conscious of what their 
minds are capable of grasping. They are in a 
state of happiness not realized by those whose 
minds are held by the false beliefs of earth. One 
acting the hypocrite by doing as others do and be- 
lieving what others profess, instead of having con- 
victions of one's own and firmly holding to them, 
is sure, sooner or later, of being made unhappy 
by regrets and disappointments. 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 37 

The voice of conscience is the still small voice 
that many call God and is what should guide us all. 
But each must obey his own conscience and not the 
conscience of another. The attempt of one to 
make his own conscience the guide for others is 
a perversion of nature and ends in disaster. Oth- 
ers imagine their own voice of conscience is the 
voice of the Infinite and that therefore all who 
accept this voice and believe what it teaches have 
the truth. 

Is it any wonder religion is split up into wrang- 
ling sects — that blind faith has taken the place 
of knowledge and borrowed beliefs the place of 
individual conviction? 

The spirit world is at all times striving to up- 
lift and educate the people of earth and make bet- 
ter conditions for life. This for us is pleasant 
work, but we are hindered in many ways by your- 
selves. We have gained much in the last few 
years. More ways are being opened for us. "We 
are being made conscious as we never were be- 
fore of our power to help those on earth. More 
are thinking along this line than at any time in 
the history of earth. More on this side are work- 
ing for this, and many who have been here years 
without number are just finding out that they 
can return and help change conditions. This may 
seem strange, but it is nevertheless true. We are 
living here in spirit, in a world of discovery, and, 
in my opinion, shall always continue to do so. The 
half has never been told. 



CHAPTER X 

A PREACHER AND A DRUNKARD 

THROUGH the slums of an English city 
A preacher was wending his way, 
With a Bible under his arm, 

Intent on what to say. 
To bring to the feet of Jesus, 

Their sins to have washed away, 
To fit for the heavenly kingdom 
Those who had gone astray. 

On the steps of a Public House 

He saw a man forlorn. 
He was bloated and in tatters, 

A disgrace to the human form. 
His hand he laid upon him ; 

The man arose with a start 
And gave the preacher a look 

Which somehow touched his heart. 

His usual fluent language 

Was checked on that very spot. 
He was able only to utter, 

"Have you no one to care? 
Hard drink lias brought you to ruin, 

It takes what is manly away, 
Come over with me to our mission, 

We'll teach you how to pray." 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 39 

The man drew up most proudly. 

"If you wish my story I'll tell, 
The first in all these years, sir, 

To hear the reason I fell. 
Why, whisky is my friend, sir, 

It does not make me wild ; 
It causes me to forget 

I had home, and wife, and child. 

"I was a lawyer — would you believe — 

I won applause in many a case. 
My name was almost famous 

And was known all over the place. 
A preacher then came to our home, 

A devil he was in disguise. 
The Bible was under his arm 

And his mouth was filled with lies. 

"He set my wife against me, 

And before I was aware, 
With lies he had entrapped her ; 

For me she ceased to care. 
I could have shaken his life out, 

The miserable, cowardly cur; 
But the trembling woman before me, 

My thoughts were all for her. 

"And for our little daughter, 

Who must not know the shame. 
And so I left our home 

And shouldered all the blame." 
The preacher stood in silence — 

"My God! Can this be he, 
The man I wronged so long ago, 

Telling his tale to me ? 



40 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

"My sins have found me out. 

How deeply did I pray 
To be forgiven, and thought I was, 

And continued to teach the way." 
A crowd had gathered around 

To hear what the preacher could say 
To the drunkard who had sat 

In the barroom day by day. 

A scream rang out on the air. 

A child had stumbled and fell 
In front of a motor truck. 

All stood as under a spell. 
At once, with a curse at the chauffeur, 

The drunkard gave a leap, 
Caught the child and threw her out 

To the other side of the street. 

But he gave his life for the baby, 

As bruised and bleeding he lay, 
The mother, with child in arms, 

Knelt down by his side to say 
How grateful she felt to him, 

For whom she would care for life, 
Not knowing it was her father, 

And her mother was once his wife. 

A white-faced, gray-haired woman 

Crept into the morgue that night, 
And by a birthmark on the arm 

She knew the story was right. 
The report came out in the papers 

That told the story well, 
Of how a bright young lawyer 

Was wronged by another and fell. 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 41 

When at the bar of justice, 

Where all must some day stand, 
To reap what they have sown 

In that brighter, better land, 
And answer for each wrong act, 

With the cause that led to it, too, 
Of the preacher and the drunkard, 

Which fares the better, think youf 



CHAPTEE XI 

I AM an Indian chief and lived many years ago, 
when the white man was onr enemy. We were 
contented and happy. My tribe lived in peace 
with the few settlers that came into the territory 
where we limited and fished. Wild game was plen- 
tiful and we never went hnngry. 

But the day came at last when the order was 
given for ns to move forward. This we deter- 
mined not to do. We organized our little band 
as best we could, and fought many a bloody battle 
for our homes, for they were this to us, even 
though they were only Indian wigwams. Oh, how 
we hated the white race! We were ignorant and 
could not understand. They did not give us much 
chance. They wanted the lands we considered our 
own. Do not blame the poor Indian for the 
cruelty that he afterwards practiced, for he was 
driven to it. It would all have been needless had 
we been treated fairly. But when once started we 
became crazed with a desire for vengeance and 
considered all the whites our enemies. 

But we were at last overpowered, and I signed 
the treaty of peace with Mad Anthony at Green- 
ville, Ohio. But there was no peace in my heart 
or in the hearts of my few brave followers who 
were spared. Yet we lived on, moving towards the 
setting sun, and still being crowded out of our 
settlements. At the present time only a few of a 
glorious race of people are living on earth, but 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 43 

here, in spirit, we are countless hosts, for we in- 
habited the earth before the white race came into 
existence. We are nature's own children. This 
knowledge has always been in our possession. 
We never feared a devil, but always looked to the 
Great Spirit to provide for us a happy hunting 
ground. This we have now found, and no power 
can take it from us, for we came into our own. 
We are proud of our race. We delight in coming 
again to earth and helping those we are able to 
reach, for the Indian 's heart is kind, if he is only 
treated right. He never forgets a friend. In a 
few short years our race will become extinct, for 
the Indian cannot live in the atmosphere of your 
so-called civilization. He soon succumbs to the 
diseases of the white race, of which the Indian, in 
his native state, never knows. We have no hatred 
now towards the whites, knowing the Great Spirit 
is their source also. We are all the children of 
one parent. We all have an equal chance for hap- 
piness here, where much is given and nothing 
taken away. 



CHAPTER XII 

I AM to give to the world an experience that 
has never been given before, not since the rich 
man and Lazarus, at least. I was in hell for a 
number of years after leaving earth and really 
thought I was burning all the time. I could actu- 
ally feel the flames scorching my flesh, as I 
thought. 

Friends of earth, I want to tell you my story. I 
was considered a great man of my time. I was 
a ruler and had great power over my subjects. I 
stopped at nothing to gain my selfish ends. If any- 
one thwarted me he was soon put out of my way. 
I thought the world was made for my pleasure, 
and I accepted everything as my right. I was 
grateful to none. I was never happy, for such a 
disposition cannot attain happiness. I thought I 
could rule the heavens as I could the earth. I 
was never given any teaching that was of benefit 
to me. My teachers only flattered me, made me 
conceited and contented with myself. 

I have no memory of leaving the earth plane. 
I awoke in agony; fire was all about me and I 
could not get away from it. I believed firmly in 
a hell of fire while on earth, but thought this was 
only a place for my subjects who displeased me. 
The priests assured me I was, through their in- 
tercessions, a fit subject for heaven. I had so lit- 
tle sense of my own that I believed them and went 
on my way committing deeds of shame. I won- 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 45 

der I was ever released from the torture I found 
myself in when I awoke. It makes me shudder 
even now, after years of release, and of work 
here which I have learned to love, for this was 
my salvation. I expected to suffer forever. Oh, 
how every wicked deed was brought to my con- 
sciousness until I cried for pardon to a God I 
knew I had outraged ! I do not know how long I 
was in this condition, but when my own conscience 
told me I was only getting my just deserts then I 
experienced a change that I was not expecting. 

During all this time I was alone. None heard or 
saw my anguish. I have often wondered if any 
others have suffered as I, but I am assured that 
many have, and will, as long as people are taught 
as they still are on earth. That there is a hell of 
fire for those who do not believe and a heaven of 
rest for those that do believe that Jesus can, by 
forgiving their sins, even at the last moment of a 
misspent life, bring them into peace and rest, or 
by not forgiving, send them to the torment of the 
flames. Oh, in what agony some of us have to 
unlearn all we ever learned of a future life! At 
this time, when I began to think for myself, I had 
to acknowledge to myself that I was only getting 
justice, for I had made many suffer. 

A man I had had beheaded for a trifling offence 
came to me. I thought he had come to add to my 
torture and get his revenge. What was my sur- 
prise to hear him say, " Brother, you have suf- 
fered enough; come with me and I will show you 
that there is peace yet for you, and happiness 
eventually when you deserve it. Many, many 
years have passed since then and I have pro- 



46 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

gressed by helping and teaching others. I have 
attained a happiness that I once thought impos- 
sible, for I am now in the sixth sphere, and there 
is progression still ahead. We, in my opinion, 
never reach perfection; there will always be new 
truths presented, each of which will be better 
than the last. While the door of reformation is 
never closed, neither is the door of learning, and 
we can go onward and onward throughout all time. 



CHAPTEE XIII 

I WAS a priest on earth, but find myself not 
beyond the gates of progress. I have not been 
here long, but long enough to learn what I never 
expected to have to learn, that as far as our re- 
ligion is concerned, we would be better off if we 
had none. How can I tell you of my surprise? 
I was earnest and believed in the infallibility of 
the pope. I believed that all priests were ab- 
solved from sins of earth, and if sincere could com- 
mit no wrong. How little I knew, with all my 
education, of the truth of eternal life ! As priests 
we were not allowed to read and educate ourselves 
along any lines that would be of benefit or lead 
us to think for ourselves. We are still taught as 
priests were in the Dark Ages, when there was 
some excuse for ignorance; now there is none. 
With the advantages that are now within the reach 
of all, I wonder how I could have believed all that 
was told me. But we are taught in such an at- 
mosphere of superstition, that we are hypnotized 
by those in authority over us and we in turn pass 
it on to our followers. I cannot say no good is 
accomplished. There is much ; but this is so over- 
balanced by the false teachings that there is little 
good comes of it. 

The pity of it is that we must wait till we enter 
eternity before we study out life's problems for 
ourselves. I, who thought the Church of Eome 
and what it represents placed us, by following 



48 FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL 

its teachings, in a heaven of happiness, now know 
that it has been only a stumbling block to me. 

I must now work as I never did before to gain 
a knowledge of this world of spirit. Kind friends 
who preceded me have taught me much of the 
truth and I am anxious to learn. I do not have to 
suffer for sins, for I was honest and sincere and 
did the best I could. Many I know will suffer 
torment on coming here, for it is by right living 
that we can in any manner be benefited. Those 
whom I regard as teachers of this life tell me I 
can soon learn all I so earnestly desire, for the 
advantages here are without limit and all have 
an equal chance. The beauties and grandeur of 
the world of spirit cannot be told. A person must 
enter it as spirit to understand. 



CHAPTER XIV 

I AM a little newsboy and came to this place of 
spirits a short time ago. I was selling papers 
on the streets of New York. I was cold and hun- 
gry, for the wind was bitterly cold this day and 
the streets were a glare of ice. I had only a few 
more papers to sell, when I would go to my attic 
home, where a woman would probably beat me 
first and give me a few crusts to eat afterwards. 
I was a waif and stopped wherever I could find 
shelter for a week or so, then go on to some other 
place, where perhaps I would be worse treated 
than before ; yet, in spite of the hardships, I was 
not always unhappy, for we had many a merry 
game on the streets of New York under the feet 
of the multitude. 

Now, I had a little friend, not quite my own 
age, who was a flower girl and as friendless as I. 
The woman with whom she lived — for she was an 
orphan — took all the money she earned and would 
often beat her if she thought it was not as much as 
it should be. I was wishing I was a man and 
could have a home of my own where we could both 
live and not be abused or go cold and hungry. She 
had started to cross the street where a lady had 
beckoned to her for some flowers. I happened 
along at this time and just as she was almost 
across an automobile came around the corner and, 
although we children of the street are quick of eye 
and nimble of feet, yet we were not quick enough. 



50 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

I gave her a push, but too late ; it caught us both. 
I never knew I was hit, but she lived a few mo- 
ments, I am told. I opened my eyes in heaven, for 
of all places of beauty I had ever even imagined 
none could compare with this. I thought I was 
dreaming and that Jennie was with me. 

Many beautiful people were standing around in 
this lovely place I was in. I thought, ' 'Hully gee ! 
don't let me ever wake up!" Then a lady spoke 
to me and said, "Jamie, clear, I am your own 
mother. Both you and Jennie were killed in an 
accident. Now you will live here with me in this 
beautiful place and never know cold or hunger 
again. Jennie's parents are both here and will 
take her into their beautiful home, where they 
will be glad to welcome you, for you were almost 
her only friend and they are grateful. My dear 
little boy, how often has mother longed to bring 
you here, but this I could not do until the time 
came. If we could do this the earth would soon 
become depopulated, for those who could not 
bring people through love would do so through 
revenge. So we must bide our time. I am glad 
you did not suffer, for you have suffered all your 
short life. Your father is still on earth. He aban- 
doned you after I came here and never gave you 
a thought, yet he was well able to have cared for 
you properly.' ' 

I, Margaret, Jamie's mother, have written the 
above sketch for him, for he still uses the lan- 
guage of the street. I will add that but for his 
heroism in trying to save his little playmate he 
would still be selling his papers on the streets of 
New York. Yet I, his mother, am glad this oc- 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 51 

curred, for he is here with me now, where he will 
be forever safe from the temptations of the earth 
life. For the benefit of all who may read this ac- 
count which I am writing let me add that when a 
waif of the streets gets his earth life crushed out 
it is not wholly a loss. All such waifs escape the 
snares and pitfalls of sin and never have to suf- 
fer for the mistakes that the environments would 
undoubtedly lead many of them into. 



CHAPTER XV 

I WAS a bachelor and was never happy and con- 
tent with a single life. I am in a better conn- 
try now and can look back over my past and see 
its mistakes. All my life I desired to possess the 
love of a woman. Then when I had won the love 
of one I so earnestly sought I wonld grow dissat- 
isfied and wonld not marry her. Many good and 
beautiful young girls did I disappoint in this way. 
Yet I did not do this for the purpose of causing 
disappointment and pain. I would think each time 
that I had found the one woman I could love and 
protect and then she would grow so displeasing 
to me that I could not endure the thought of mak- 
ing her my wife. Had I been a woman I might 
have been called a coquette. I went through life 
in this manner with the longing for a companion 
ungratified. I know my lot was more sad and 
undesirable than any of the ones I had disap- 
pointed, for they in time outgrew their attach- 
ment, married and had happy homes. 

I grew to be an old man, unloved and uncared 
for. I had means, so poverty did not touch me. 
Only those who have the heart hunger can realize 
what a life of this kind is like. I believe it is bet- 
ter to have wife and family on earth, even though 
things do not always run smoothly and poverty 
may knock at the door. There is comfort in hav- 
ing someone that belongs to us to care for and 
who cares for us. Without such a one a soul feels 
friendless and alone. No matter how much wealth 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 53 

one has accumulated it will not ease the heart hun- 
ger and longing for a mate. 

This desire is natural and does not end with 
the earth life, but is a part of us here in spirit life. 
Until we find our own we are unsatisfied and in a 
state of unrest. It is an unnatural life. I had 
been here a number of years before I understood 
the laws of nature as I now do. There are only 
two souls of opposite sex who are truly mated, 
however many times they may have married on 
earth. They, in earth life, in each marriage may 
have been comparatively happy and yet not be 
truly mated, as all must be on this side when they 
have reached this state of progression. 

I was here many years before I found that my 
own other half or soul mate was living on the 
earth plane. She was the wife of another and was 
not happy in her marriage. She had the same 
feeling of longing for love ungratified. I watched 
over her and cared for her all I could. Yet I 
could not make her understand. Her life at last 
became so unhappy that she committed suicide. 
I could not help her on her coming here until she 
had repented of much of her past. I at last could 
get near her and could teach and help her in many 
ways. I still have certain conditions to make 
right, while she also has not finished her work that 
she should have done before coming here and 
which she would have done had she come here in 
a natural way. But we both now know that, when 
we have earned it, such a great joy will come to us 
that it was well worth both waiting and working 
for. For the only happiness without alloy is the 
perfect mating of nature 's own children in spirit. 



CHAPTEE XVI 

I AM one who was happy on earth, for I was 
able to work for the causes I loved — temper- 
ance and woman suffrage. I never ceased in my 
efforts to free the country of the accursed liquor 
traffic and to emancipate those of my own sex. I 
am glad to look back and see the good seed that I 
have sown beginning to bear fruit, though it will 
be some time before I can see both movements a 
final success. I am working here now as earnestly 
as I ever did on earth. As surely as the sun 
shines, both the causes that I labored for will 
some day be triumphant, not at once, but slowly 
and surely, as they are even now gaining vic- 
tories. Then the earth will be a fit place in which 
to bring children into existence. As conditions 
now are, people may well hesitate to marry, know- 
ing the responsibility that will rest upon them and 
the trials that may be in store. What grief for a 
mother to see her son come reeling home and 
what worry and heartache are hers all the time 
he may be away, fearing and dreading that while 
under the influence of liquor he may commit some 
crime or be brought home to her a corpse, being 
killed in some den of iniquity. When women get 
the franchise they will put a stop to the accursed 
stuff being manufactured. This is the only way 
to end its evil influence. There are many women, 
I know, who drink, and many would uphold the 
habit by casting their vote for its continuance, 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 55 

but not the majority. Too many good mothers, 
wives and children have seen and known its curse. 
The abolition of the drink habit may be longer in 
coming than otherwise, because it is so bitterly 
fought, not by those who drink, but because of the 
greed for the gold it brings. The poor drunkard 
that has to be picked up out of the gutter in his 
own heart would be glad if it were out of his 
reach. The blame rests with those who take ad- 
vantage of his weakness and filch from him his 
hard-earned nickels and dimes and who sit in their 
palaces and ride over the country in their auto- 
mobiles. 

They, on coming into spirit life, receive what 
they deserve. They envy even the drunkard who 
was in the gutter, for their condition here is often 
much worse than his. I have seen and know what 
their condition is. I should pity them more did I 
not remember what suffering they caused and that 
the semi-darkness and desolation in which they 
find themselves are but the result of what they did 
on earth. My pity goes rather to the drunkards 
who are in desolation and despair because the 
tempters wanted their money, caring not how 
they robbed them of their manhood and much of 
their ability to live honest, upright lives. I care 
not who or what one is, he cannot be the man 
G-od meant him to be if a slave to the drink 
habit. There are plenty of pure, good drinks with- 
out that which inebriates. But this would not 
serve the purpose of the money grabbers. It could 
not rob a man of his reason and thereby make him 
their prey, giving him an appetite that can never 
be satisfied, taking from him much that is most 



56 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

precious to manhood and possibly every dollar he 
can make as long as he is able to earn. Then he 
may stoop to crime to get the means to quench 
his thirst. Such are conditions that exist to-day ; 
but the day will dawn on your fair land when all 
this will be no more. True, there will always exist 
the two factors, good and evil, or the developed 
and undeveloped man, but it will not be so hard 
to live a good life as now. The temptations will 
not be so great and things will be more in accord 
with nature and nature's wonderful laws. 



CHAPTER XVII 

THE SEAECHLIGHT OF TRUTH 

TURN on the searchlight, revealing the heart 
Of people yon think yon know. 
How surprised you will be when you see 
What the searchlight is able to show. 
There oft is a man who seems rude and rough, 
Who speaks not kindly, but always gruff. 
Yet 'tis not known that often he sends 
All he can spare to two aged friends 
To keep them from hunger and want. 

Another there is whose pictured face 
Is seen in every public place. 
He gives his thousands to aid the poor, 
His praise is sung from door to door. 
The searchlight turned on such as he 
It shows a man heartless and cold, 
Who gives his time as well as gold 
To herald his glory and his fame 
To win for himself a widespread name. 

A woman comes before a throng 
With painted face and jest and song. 
But oft her heart is good and true, 
With a husband ill, no work can he do. 
Her hours of service are far too few, 
With two babies at home to be fed. 



58 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

Now comes a woman, pious and meek, 
Scattering tracts every day in the week. 
The searchlight shows such a narrow mind. 
Nothing is good except her kind — 
Who prays God's mercy on you and me 
Because with her we fail to agree, 
We shall at last be lost. 

Others there are who carry a smile, 

Leading all to think they have no guile. 

But what does the searchlight show? 

Shows hearts within as black as night. 

They take the hand, but stab with might, 

When freedom from danger makes safe the act 

My pictures of human life are done 

With those who agree with everyone. 

And what does the searchlight show of these? 

They are cowards at heart and mentally weak, 

Being led by all with whom they speak, 

With no purpose or plan or will of their own, 

Tools to be used by stronger men. 



CHAPTER XVIII 

OH! Emerald Isle, our native land, 
We love thee even more 
Than when we walked in flesh and blood 
Upon thy rugged shore. 

For spirit eyes see clearly, 

Our ears have heard thy cries. 
We're working for thy freedom 

From homes beyond the skies. 

I am an Irishman, still with the same desires 
that I had while on earth, though more than a 
hundred years have passed since I came to grief 
through striving for what my native land was not 
at that time ready for — freedom. Still, I was ac- 
cused by many of only wanting to benefit myself. 
This was not true. I was of a very patriotic na- 
ture and my whole heart was set on doing some- 
thing for the country I loved. I grew to man- 
hood seeing our people not being bought and sold 
as were the negroes later in America, yet, though 
white, living under, I think, worse bondage. 

The slaves were in most cases well cared for, 
but our people were not. All they could make 
went to the landlord, leaving them nothing for 
themselves. When I grew up existing conditions 
so aroused me that I tried to get certain conces- 
sions so our people might have something for 
themselves. No matter how they worked, they 



60 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

were allowed hardly enough to live on comfort- 
ably. I gave much of my time to the study of 
these conditions. I could see no way out of our 
difficulties but by rebellion; yet this only added 
to them, for we were too greatly outnumbered. 
I could not, however, be silent while my country- 
men were in such slavery, working for the Eng- 
lish aristocracy that knew not the meaning of 
honest toil. Well, I stirred up my countrymen, 
but it did no good. I was finally hanged for my 
loyalty and patriotism and my earth life and work 
are very well known. But I have never ceased in 
my efforts to bring about what I worked for on 
earth and I can now almost see it being accom- 
plished. Ireland will never more be kept in igno- 
rance and bondage. England must give our peo- 
ple a chance. Home rule is the first step. But I 
and others like me will never be satisfied with 
this. We shall keep on in our silent work until 
Ireland becomes as free as any country on which 
the sun shines. Then I shall be satisfied with 
my work and willing to take up new lines. But 
nothing else has ever appealed to me as yet. And 
I have been here many years. We work in many 
ways, influencing all the people we can with the 
one end in view to free the little isle we still love, 
and see it take its rightful place among the nations 
of the earth. 



CHAPTER XIX 

WOULD you like to hear the experiences of 
Patrick O'Shea? I lived in Ireland, sure, 
for I would not have wanted to live anywhere else. 
My parents were very anxious for me to become 
a priest, as the highest ambition in life for a true 
Irish couple is to have a son of their own a priest. 
But this did not suit me at all, for I had my eyes 
on a little colleen even then, and my greatest 
ambition was to grow up and make her my wife. 
When I was about to do this and was going 
to the city to get some finery for our wedding, my 
horse became frightened and out I was thrown, 
my head striking a stone by the roadside. ' ' Sure, 
Pat, you are in for it now, and what will poor 
Katie say that you are hurt so badly V 9 Some 
people who knew me saw the accident, carried 
me into the house near by and sent word to my 
parents and Katie. They soon came and, oh! the 
crying and wailing they did, sure, and me listening 
to it all. Well, they sure thought Patrick was all 
right. But won't they be surprised when I tell 
them I i l ain 't hurt at all, but am only stunned VI 
wondered why I could see my body, but thought 
it was because my head had got such an awful 
knock. Well, they took me home, and didn't I 
have a beautiful wake, sure? It was very inter- 
esting to me, and I thought, " Won't they be sorry 
they shed so many tears when I get up?" I 
wanted to wait until they were all in the room; 



62 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

then I thought it would be great fun to give them 
an awful fright. I was enjoying it all, for I ex- 
pected we would soon be having a great thanks- 
giving over it. 

But in the middle of the night, when the wake 
was at its height, I tried to tell them that they 
could postpone all their hilarity, for Pat was not 
dead and did not need their prayers, for he could 
pray for himself. But I could not make them 
hear a word I said. I wondered if they were all 
drunk or crazy. But after they had put my body 
in the ground I began to think it must be Pat who 
was wrong after all, for, at the grave, when my 
good old mother knelt to say her last prayer for 
Pat, something seemed to snap and I could leave 
them all. I seemed to float upward and could see 
forms, but could not at first recognize them. But 
after a very short time, friends I had known came 
and made Pat very welcome into the world of 
spirit, as they called it. They told me I was actu- 
ally killed by the accident, but that I had only 
just begun to live really. 

Well, I have found they were right, that we have 
two bodies, a material and a spiritual, and that 
until the silver cord the Bible tells of is severed, 
both bodies are one. So-called dead people could 
then be resuscitated if proper means were taken, 
as would be the case if this were understood. This 
is why so-called miracles occur when the dead are 
brought to life. The new pulmotor is of benefit, 
for if one were buried for a week or frozen in a 
cake of ice, as scientists have experimented with, 
and the magnetic cord were not severed, he could 
again enter his body and live on the earth, but if 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 63 

nothing were done spirit friends and loved ones 
would come to his relief and help him to leave his 
body. I do not mean that the spirit is buried 
under ground, but the spirit cannot leave the body 
very long, nor will the body decompose until the 
cord is severed. When once severed no power on 
earth or in spirit can connect it again. But the 
body goes back to the elements from which it 
came and the individual spirit lives eternally on. 
Now you see Pat has learned something since 
coming here. I also have learned how soon one 
can be forgotten, for my little Katie soon married 
my rival and never gave even a thought to Patrick 
O'Shea. 



CHAPTEE XX 

I WAS on earth a doctor, in a little town in 
western Ohio, where I lived and practiced medi- 
cine. I was considered good in my practice, al- 
though I was far from being a good man. I 
thought I was pretty well educated in my profes- 
sion, but found on coming here I was very far 
from being well learned. Though I have been 
here a good many years, I am still a student and 
realize I have only started to learn of the great 
principles of life and the human organism. I 
have been studying along these lines since com- 
ing here, after I worked myself out of the condi- 
tion I found myself in on entering here. I did not 
believe in immortality, heaven or hell, and on 
awakening to full consciousness and seeing my- 
self as others in spirit could see me, was one of 
the greatest surprises of my life. I was perfectly 
willing to commence improvement and right all 
wrongs that I had committed. This was rather 
difficult, but I was not one that would let obstacles 
overcome me when on earth, and I persevered. 
I had kind friends and many loved ones to help 
me in giving me good advice. This I was very 
glad to follow, for it took lots of conceit out of me 
to see how badly I was mistaken in my views. 

My first desire was to find the origin, of life. 
This has been my study for years, and I have 
made but little advancement. I have found a few 
truths, which I will give you. They are perhaps 



FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL 65 

known to many, for you on earth have many 
things given you from spirit people who are 
farther in the line of progression than I. We all 
work along lines in which we were the most in- 
terested and which we are able to understand. It 
would be of no use to you to give you anything in 
medical terms that you know nothing about. 

I will give you what I have learned for what 
it is worth. You know we here have our own 
opinions the same as you of earth, and differ on 
many points. My research into the origin of 
life goes no farther than the soul germs that are 
floating about in the atmosphere. Whence they 
came I do not know, but we understand that they 
come from the one great source — almighty power 
of God. I cannot find anyone who can explain to 
my satisfaction who or what God may be. So my 
research started with the life germs that are al- 
ways floating in the atmosphere. Each consists 
of two particles — a male and female — as there are 
always the two sex forces in everything in nature. 
They are so minute that the human eye cannot 
distinguish them. They become separated before 
being breathed or absorbed into the male. They 
are transferred to the female through whom they 
gain their earth expression. The other compan- 
ion germ finds expression in like manner through 
another. 

I have also found that if the soul germ is thrown 
out of the matrix before it receives sufficient mag- 
netism from the mother it returns again into the 
atmosphere as a germ and finds expression through 
another by reincarnating, not losing but gaining in 
strength by the experience of which it knows noth- 



66 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

ing. True, there are many spirit children here 
that never reached the proper period of gesta- 
tion, but these had received sufficient magnetism 
to enable them to continue their existence in spirit 
and are taken often into the homes of their 
parents by spirits who give their time and atten- 
tion to this work. 

Now, here is the explanation of the much-talked- 
of and often ridiculed soul-mate. But it is one 
of the truths that changes not. Your companion 
germ that floated in the atmosphere perhaps hun- 
dreds of years will eventually be your soul-mate 
and you could have no other. The soul germs may 
have had to reincarnate a great many times be- 
fore being born naturally in flesh and blood, but 
after this birth takes place they can never rein- 
carnate again, but must gain all progress from that 
time on. For until the age of three or four years 
you are scarcely conscious of your existence, but 
when consciousness dawns for you it will remain 
forever. If you return again to earth after the 
change of death it will be to right some wrong you 
have committed, or because you wish to teach 
others of the things you have learned and have 
loved ones that you wish to help by your influ- 
ence. You may be years in the spirit world be- 
fore you find your own soul companion, but when 
the proper time comes you will be drawn together 
by the unseen, silent power that none can tell 
whence it comes, but which all recognize as being 
Divine Power that knoweth all things. 



CHAPTEE XXI 

I WAS a robber when on earth. I was a very 
bad man. I had all the bad habits which ex- 
isted. I drank, gambled and robbed so I could 
get the means to live the life of depravity, which 
I thought I enjoyed. I had no knowledge of a 
better life. My parents were my teachers in a 
life of crime. I had to enter the spirit world to 
learn that all do not live as I did on earth. After 
a time I was able to return to earth as a student, 
and there learn the things I should have learned 
while in the body, this opportunity having been 
denied me by my environment. I soon learned 
how wrong I had lived. 

I also found that I could decide which way I 
should continue to live. I could get in with my 
old companions and help them commit deeds of 
crime or I could help them to live better lives. 
Well, I did not decide all at once. The old ties 
were the strongest and I went with my compan- 
ions into the dens of iniquity, but on seeing them 
with the clear vision of spirit in all their vileness, 
I resolved I would never again share in their 
revels, but try and influence them to lead better 
lives. 

The making of a good resolve is a wonderful 
help, either on earth or here in spirit. I was very 
earnest this time and determined to learn all I 
could of life, both on earth and in the world of 
spirit. Good angels came to my assistance. I 



68 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

was mystified. I questioned them to find if there 
was any chance for such as I to reach their own 
happy state. They gave me their advice and help 
and told me I would have to begin my work on the 
earth plane to reach a state of happiness I now 
craved. My first work was to be with my parents, 
to influence them to lead better lives. My mother, 
while never giving me any help in teaching me 
right from wrong, idolized her boy. I never un- 
derstood her, either, for had she chosen a good 
man instead of my father she would have been 
a very different woman. None on earth are with 
out some good traits and my mother's love for me 
was a great help to us both. 

I could now get nearer her than ever before, 
and influence her as I could no one else. I stayed 
near my mother, influencing her in every way pos- 
sible, until her life, as she was then living, grew 
so distasteful to her that she determined to leave 
the city in which she lived and go where she was 
not known. My father I could do nothing with. 
I continued influencing my mother until she did 
as I wished, not knowing I was the cause of her 
going to a relative in a distant state and there 
working and living in peace. 

I have found there is nothing on earth or in 
heaven quite like a mother's wonderful love. It 
does away with the mistaken idea of reincarna- 
tion in which many believe. It makes no differ- 
ence how low in the scale or degenerate a child, 
the mother's love is hoping and trusting to find it 
again, purified in spirit, and she will not be dis- 
appointed. On the other hand, if a spirit returns 
to earth and is reborn through another, how could 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 69 

the mother find her own? It would then lose its 
identity and be another and the mother would be 
bereft of her child. This cannot be. I know a 
spirit such as I can return to earth and do as much 
good and get as much good, and even more, than 
if he were to re-enter a body of flesh. A spirit 
must, for his own good, return to earth if he has 
not reached a certain stage of progression. I 
have been able to wipe my own sins away and v 
can go to great heights or planes of progression 
in spirit. But I am still spending most of my 
time on earth, glad to help any soul I can reach. 
I am now one of a band of missionaries laboring 
for the good of any with whom we can come in 
touch on earth, and teaching the undeveloped 
spirits here who do not realize their condition. We 
shall continue in this line until others come to 
take our places. Then we shall take up other 
work here. We have plenty of time for pleasure 
and amusement, for it is not good for even spirits 
to have all work and no play. Our work here is so 
very interesting and instructive that the work 
itself is a pleasure. In her higher home my mother 
is always waiting to welcome her boy from his 
labors of love. 



CHAPTER XXII 

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU? 

What does it mean to yon 

When death stalks in at the door, 

Takes from yon yonr loved ones 
Whose forms yon see no more? 

Do they spend their time in bowing 
Aronnd a great white throne 

God's anger to appease, 
And for church neglect atone? 

Instead, the spirits tell us 

They live and grow and learn, 

And stndy life's great problems 
And not a soul will burn. 

They tell us that our progress 
May never, never cease, 

And that each soul may earn 
A life of joy and peace. 



CHAPTER XXIII 

I WAS the fourteenth president of the United 
States. I was a churchman on earth, belong- 
ing to the Episcopal faith. While not very re- 
ligious, I believed in the doctrines of my church. 
I still think the churches do a great amount of 
good in the world, although mistaken in many 
things. The welfare of man is what they have 
at heart. I am speaking of the majority and of 
no sect or creed. All believe somewhat alike, al- 
though differing on many points. The aim of all 
Christians is alike, to gain heaven or happiness 
after the change of death. Our aim here is the 
same. We also differ on many points, but we 
agree that the heaven one finds on coming here 
depends on his condition. What one has builded 
by his life on earth that is what he will receive 
on reaching here. 

Yet we never cease desiring something better. 
Perhaps we are satisfied for a time. Yet, how- 
ever great our happiness on coming here, after a 
time we aspire to greater heights. In striving to 
reach perfect happiness we progress. Our earn- 
est desires and longings, be they what they may, 
are what we are building our place of dwelling on 
this the spirit side. If we are longing for a home 
of our own and were never able to gratify that 
desire on earth, it will be gratified here. But the 
quality of the home will depend upon the quality 
of the one who occupies it. 



72 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

This is the only world I know where people are 
valued for just what they are — no more and no 
less. If we see someone's spirit form that is glori- 
ous in its brightness and beauty we know it has 
earned this estate and has not gained it by fraud 
or deceit, as wealth and popularity are gained on 
earth very often. 

Politics still interest me. It is very interesting 
for us to see the great strides in progress earth's 
children are making. It is a great comfort to be 
able to know this. While we cannot reach all, we 
can reach some and can very easily find them if we 
wish to do so. 

I have never written in this manner before and 
am greatly pleased with this opportunity. I have 
a home here beautiful beyond description, but it 
was not all complete when I came here. I had 
many things to make right on earth before I could 
think of my own comfort and happiness, but I com 
menced in earnest and overcame my faults one by 
one. Each time I gained more strength and cour- 
age for the next effort. By and by to my con- 
science came the still small voice, " 'Tis enough, 
come up higher." Then the beauties of spirit 
life appeared to me and I began to learn many 
things. Oh, the joy of knowing all our dormant 
faculties can be brought out and developed and all 
our heart longings be gratified ! 

You would be very much surprised to see, as 
we here do, among the poor laboring classes 
that toil from early morning until late at night 
for simply their daily bread, the wonderful tal- 
ents lying dormant from the lack of means to de- 
velop them. Here is where these people can un- 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 73 

fold and make use of their God-given faculties. 
Their joy is beyond your powers of conception. 
We are always striving to learn what is beyond. 
Just as you of earth are learning of the spirit 
world, so we are learning of worlds beyond this. 
Our opportunities are greater than yours, for the 
spirit has many ways of gaining knowledge that 
you have not. Yet the time is not far distant when 
your advantages in this direction will be greatly 
increased. When the religion and science of earth 
accept the fact of spirit return, then greater 
achievements will take place. As in the olden 
time, those who came to scoff remained to pray, so 
the scoffers of this truth to-day will in future 
time become its heralds. 

Bright as the morning star, 

Fairer than day, 
Are the angels of light 

That are leading the way. 



CHAPTEE XXIV 

A SCEUB WOMAN 

JUST an old woman, but angels of light 
'er her are watching from morning till night ; 
And from the time the night shadows fall 
While she is scrubbing they notice it all. 

A home she is building to be envied by kings, 
Tho ' worn and weary, her hopeful heart sings. 
She often gives pennies to those poorer than she, 
Which will bear her interest in the world to be. 

Many, oh, many, are weary and sad! 

Have long since forgotten they ever were glad. 

With work piled before them they are scarce able 

to do, 
And moments of rest are always too few. 

Just an old woman, down on her knees, 
Not praying for pardon or some God to appease. 
Only earning her bread in the way that she can, 
Charity scorning, she asks help of no man. 

Compensation nor justice belongs to this life; 
It is nothing but toil and worry and strife. 
But if we do our best anywhere we may be, 
There's a comfort in this that no one can see. 

Tho' old and forsaken, by earth friends forgot, 
Let ns each do our best whatever our lot. 
If sometimes on knees from labor made sore, 
The angels may guard us while scrubbing a floor. 



CHAPTEE XXV 

I WANT to tell you of the experience of a 
mother who had a big family of boys and girls, 
a comfortable home and a good, kind husband. At 
an early age I was converted, as I then under- 
stood it, and gave my life into my Savior's keep- 
ing. I was a Methodist and earnest in the cause 
and work of my church. My greatest grief was 
that I could not persuade my husband to join the 
church with me. I prayed for this all my earth 
life, yet never saw my prayers answered. My 
children, too, were a source of grief, for neither 
would they accept Jesus and join the church. For 
my girls I did not grieve so much, for they were 
good and I trusted to my Savior to bring them 
to Him when they grew up to understand. Yet 
many, many times have I knelt in prayer and, with 
the tears running down my face, interceded for 
my wayward boys. 

I wondered how it would be possible for me to 
be happy in heaven with even one of my children 
in hell! I have asked this question of more than 
one of our ministers and this is the answer I al- 
ways received: "Well, you know, sister, that at 
even the last moment, if you believe and call on 
Jesus, your sins can all be washed away. Surely, 
by your life of devotion to your Savior and the 
church, your children will all repent before it is 
too late. But if this should not be, you will see 
differently when you are in heaven among the 



76 FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL 

blest. If such should be the case that one or 
more of your children are, by not coming to Jesus 
for forgiveness from sin, cast into hell, you will 
know that they are receiving a just punishment 
for their sins. It cannot make you unhappy, for 
you will see as Jesus Himself sees then. ' ' 

Poor comfort it was to think I should be so 
happy that I could forget my own or look on their 
anguish unmoved. This answer never satisfied my 
heart. Yet I had confidence enough in Jesus ' love 
to think that He would bring all my children and 
loved ones to Him in a spirit of repentance and 
could then forgive them of their sins before they 
entered eternal life. 

Well, I have been here a number of years, and 
how thankful I was to find I was mistaken about 
many things when I became able to understand 
rightly. I found Jesus to be a worthy example 
and the same teacher as of old, still going about 
doing good. How often I have listened to His 
beautiful teachings. I cannot wonder that the 
people on earth worshiped Him and caused such 
confusion of the idea of salvation to be imparted 
to the untold millions. But it does not take long 
to be righted and my joy was great to learn that 
I would at some future day see all my children 
and know that they would never burn eternally, as 
I sincerely believed while on earth. 

My husband is here with me now. While he 
lived to be an old man in years and never joined 
the church, no one ever asked of him a favor in 
vain. He did more good than many that be- 
longed to the church and expected by so doing 
that a loving Savior would forgive all their sins. 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 77 

He never forgot my prayers and pleadings. A 
few days before he came here he had a preacher 
come to his home and receive him into fellowship. 
Then he was very happy, for he thought this was 
required of him. But it was not necessary, as he 
now knows. His life had builded better than he 
knew. It did not take a minister of the gospel, 
who was not as good a man by far as himself, to 
pronounce a few words begrudgingly over him 
and tell others that it was a deathbed repentance. 
The minister will find when he comes here that it 
takes more to gain happiness than to stand in the 
pulpit in a long-tailed coat and tell others how 
they should live, forgetting many times to prac- 
tice what he himself preaches. I am now glori- 
ously happy, knowing as I do that not one soul that 
is dear to me can be eternally lost. Could any- 
thing give one more peace and joy? 



CHAPTER XXVI 

I AM one who had sorrow and trouble all my 
earth life. I never did any great wrong, but 
lived the best I could. I was a farmer and worked 
hard. Yet it seemed to me the more I tried the 
worse things became. I never could understand 
why this should be. 

Many I knew who worked but little and were 
not honest in their dealings and yet prospered. I 
sometimes rebelled in my own heart at this, and 
wondered where Grod's love and justice were if 
they were not manifest on earth. I could never 
see that they were. For the innocent suffered with 
the guilty and I often thought even more. 

Sickness and death often visited my home. 
Finally I was left alone with my little ones to get 
along as best I could. How often I knew not 
which way to turn, but there was always a way 
found. At last, when my children were grown 
and I was beginning to have less care and worry, 
I was stricken with paralysis and could never 
work again. Then my children repaid me for all 
my care of them. For three years I was almost 
helpless and they never faltered in their love and 
care. But, oh ! how I longed for health so I could 
work, or for death, which I believed meant eternal 
life. I did not fear this change, but the thought 
of making it or dying always frightened me. The 
future after death took place. I felt I was pre- 
pared for it. All my life my motto had been, "Do 



FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL 79 

all the good you can and as little harm as pos- 
sible." 

On coming here I realized I had made mis- 
takes, but as they were mistakes and not crimes 
or sins, my sorrow for them was sufficient pun- 
ishment. I hardly understood conditions at once, 
everything was so beautiful. Friends and loved 
ones of my youth came and greeted me. I could 
not understand everything, as my mind was con- 
fused at times by my sickness and did not clear 
up at once. But the wife of my youth came to me. 
With her came the babe I laid away shortly after 
she left me, grown here into a beautiful woman, 
but recognized at once by the ties of nature by 
which all recognize their own, whether they have 
changed from childhood to maturity or not. My 
wife told me this beautiful place was our home 
and that we should be together throughout all 
time. Oh, how happy I was! 

Then, all at once came the thought, " Where are 
the rest — my wife I married later in life and the 
mother of my girls I have just left? I have other 
children here, too, if this is heaven." How can 
I tell you of my happiness when they, too, came to 
see me. My second wife was here; also my boy 
and girl, both grown to maturity. My only boy, 
that I was so proud of, who lived but a few weeks, 
now grown to be a man, and his sister, who also 
came here in her babyhood, were present. But 
what of me now in the presence of my two wives 1 
I for a moment was bewildered and they amused. 
But, oh! how happy I was when Ellen told me 
how we lived in spirit — how she had watched over 
her little girls on earth — how happy she was to 



80 FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL 

know I cared for them always the best I could 
and that I would soon understand the laws that 
govern this wonderful world. She told me of her 
own home and that Nettie and I would always be 
welcome, as was her first husband, whom I would 
meet some day, and that her companion was 
neither husband she had married on earth, but one 
she was drawn to in spirit. She told me no jeal- 
ousy existed and that my wives were as dear sis- 
ters, as were my children of both marriages. They 
told me they were often together and all went to- 
gether to earth to try to make themselves known, 
and have been working for an opportunity of this 
kind for years to let those still left know they were 
living, loving individuals that could help them 
in many ways. How, you ask, can spirits help 
you I By your asking us to help you, not by pray- 
ing but by asking your father, mother, or some 
friend in spirit to help you in any way that you 
earnestly desire. If it is for your good they will 
know it and will work for you. There is little be- 
yond spirit power. Your asking brings them near 
you. If they see your desires are for your 
own good, they will work and keep on working for 
that end. They very seldom fail. So do not hesi- 
tate to call on your dear ones in spirit and they 
will draw very near. Those that you attract can 
do much for you and are very willing. 

If everyone understood this, what a difference 
it would make in the world ! I often wonder how 
I could have been so ignorant of their presence 
when I now understand how near they were to 
me. I could even see and talk to them at times 
during my last year of earth life. Yet I thought 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 81 

my head was not quite right on account of my 
paralysis. I have found that for every sorrow and 
difficulty I experienced on earth I have here an 
added joy. So do not doubt but that the All 
Power knows best and will doubly repay you on 
coming here. Had I never known sorrow and 
care on earth I could not experience the great joy 
of the reverse, for words cannot tell of my happi- 
ness. Father, mother, brothers and sisters all 
have I found. What you may fear as death is only 
the fountain of perpetual youth — a future life that 
if you have lived to deserve it is beyond descrip- 
tion. It is endless. Each hour of existence brings 
a new delight. Live to deserve this great joy at 
once and not have to earn it after coming here, as 
many do. It may be hard, as my own lot was, 
but it is worth even more trouble than came my 
way, for each sorrow has a purpose and is to 
strengthen you for this eternal life. 



CHAPTEE XXVII 

WHEN I was on earth I was a Mormon. I 
want to tell you of my life, both on earth 
and here in spirit. I lived a good many years ago 
where we thought we had found the only true re- 
ligion. My parents were Mormons and I knew of 
no other religion. Polygamy was practiced. 
When I grew to manhood I fell in love with a 
beautiful girl who lived near our home. She loved 
me as devotedly as I did her and it was not long 
until we were sealed in marriage. Our home was 
so happy, I vowed that I would never be sealed 
to another. All others were repulsive to me, for 
I found in my beautiful Nellie all my longing for 
love and companionship gratified. The very men- 
tion of plural marriages made her shudder. But 
I so often assured her that I would never take 
another that she was satisfied and happy. I was a 
mechanic and was prospering in our town. Our 
baby girl was born and our home was complete. 
Our happiness was envied by an elder in the 
church and he began to lay plans that would ruin 
our lives. He had daughters that he was anxious 
to get rid of, for he had many wives. The elders 
all knew my opinions in regard to polygamy, for 
I had expressed my views many times. This did 
not tend to make me especially liked. So they be- 
gan by talking to my parents and telling them it 
had been revealed to them that I should seal unto 
myself another wife — one of the elder's daugh- 
ters. 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 83 

I would then, by obeying the laws that were 
handed down to those in authority in the church, 
become a great prophet among them. They pic- 
tured to my parents great things if I obeyed and 
the awful consequences if I should not, and con- 
tinued to live in my selfishness, as they termed it. 
Then our happy home became a very hell of 
agony. They told my wife what horrible things 
would occur if we did not obey. They so worked 
on her fears for me that she gave her consent. 
How I rebelled then against such a religion that 
could prove such a curse. I would have risked all 
and left that part of the country at once, but my 
wife would not. I had never questioned the right 
of others to marry more than one if their wish 
was to do so. When this came home to me I saw 
the hideousness of it all- — the hiding of lust and 
licentiousness under the cloak of religion. I de- 
termined to be true to my wife and my own prin- 
ciples if I went to hell for it. 

Then I went to work quietly to find out all I 
could about the Mormon religion. I pretended I 
must have time before taking another wife to pre- 
pare a home for her. I kept putting them off 
in this manner. I sent for literature of other re- 
ligious creeds and studied these sometimes into 
the morning hours and worked all next day. 

A missionary came to our town during this time 
— one that belonged to no sect, but who was called 
an evangelist. I hunted him up and told him of 
our difficulty. He came to our home, none of our 
people knowing he was there, and there convinced 
my wife as well as myself that the Mormon re- 
ligion was only a cloak in which to hide the sins 



84 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

of the high officers of the church, who, by their 
lies and deceit, caused hundreds of innocent peo- 
ple to really think it was what they represented it 
to be and to follow its teachings. Well, when we 
were both convinced that our souls would not be 
eternally damned if I did not take more wives, we 
decided to leave the town and church forever, 
which we did. There was much excitement caused 
by our vanishing from their midst, for the elders 
and our parents still thought I meant to do as 
they wished. 

We went to another state and began to enjoy 
life once more. We studied other religious be- 
liefs, for we thought we must belong to some 
church. But we could find none that appealed to 
us. We both lived to a good old age without ever 
joining with any church. My beloved Nellie came 
here to the spirit world just a few months ahead 
of me and was waiting, in all her youth and 
beauty, at the gates of a beautiful home, where 
we will never more be separated for even a few 
short months. We belonged to each other and 
found each other on earth as it is not given to 
many to do. This was the reason I could not fol- 
low the teachings of my parents and the elders, 
for where two are truly mated no others should 
interfere. Where neither will be untrue suspicion 
and jealousy do not exist. 



CHAPTER XXVIII 

I WAS a queen on a throne on earth, beloved 
by a few and hated by many. We of royal 
blood are so hedged in and taught that we know 
of no other life but our own. It is according to 
what our inborn nature is whether we are good 
or bad. We have very little taught us which is 
for our benefit or that would show us right from 
wrong. We are made to believe that our will is 
law. We therefore become arrogant and proud, 
and to feel it beneath us to do much but satisfy 
ourselves. 

But this is sometimes denied us. Even a queen 
cannot always win the love of the one she desires. 
If a great love comes into our lives it must be 
smothered if it is not one whom we are at liberty 
to marry. We must marry for the good of our em- 
pire and diplomacy decides who it must be. Very 
few are able to marry for love. This is what 
causes so much wickedness and scandal, for roy- 
alty is only flesh and blood after all. The rela- 
tive who is chosen for us is seldom congenial and 
then we look for happiness elsewhere. Imagine 
the awful times we would have to keep our lovers 
hidden and our secrets from becoming known. In 
my time this was very common among us and was 
only winked at, never very closely looked into. 
We were all in the same class, the husbands as 
well as the wives. Such jealousy existed that there 
was nothing but turmoil and strife. Crimes with- 
out number were committed which never became 



86 FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL 

known. My husband, the king, did not think as 
much of me as he did of the servants, as our mar- 
riage was one of diplomacy, to keep peace between 
the two countries. He would make love to my 
ladies in waiting before my eyes and bring ladies 
to entertain him in his own rooms. If I had loved 
him this would have been torture. While it was 
very humiliating I did not care at heart, for I 
thought as little of him as he did of me. Children 
we had none, and for this I was thankful. At my 
husband's death his brother would ascend the 
throne. I was not wicked at heart, but lived as I 
was taught. A future existence I was taught very 
little about. I was young and expected a long life. 
This I did not have on earth. 

I was put to death at my husband's command 
so that he could live more openly with his evil 
companions. When I realized I still lived I had 
no feeling but one of vengeance for the husband 
who had caused my murder. I followed him about 
as his shadow, trying in every way I could to ter- 
rorize him. When he was under the influence 
of wine I could make myself be seen by him. I 
delighted in this and he suffered agony in terror 
and remorse. No thought of doing anything else 
occurred to me but to terrorize everyone I could. 
The castle was soon said to be haunted by my 
ghost, for others beside my husband could see me 
at times. I caused all the confusion I could until 
none in the great place could feel at ease. I could 
see my husband's deeds of wickedness and could 
picture it all to him so he could also see it. 

I did not seem to feel any better myself that I 
was getting my revenge and making him surfer. 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 87 

Finally I began to think and to ask myself the 
question, "Is this all that life in eternity consists 
of, to revenge myself on those that wronged me!" 
None of my friends or relatives who had died had 
I seen. I was of the earth earthy and could not 
get into their plane. Then my conscience began 
to torment me by asking me many questions, and 
I began to look at my appearance. I was hideous 
to look upon and did not wonder that I fright- 
ened those who could see me. I soon began to 
suffer on my own account ; then I could have some 
sympathy for others. I knew my husband regret- 
ted his deed, but I felt no pity for him until I 
began to suffer myself. Then I could begin to 
feel for others and I knew I had not been blame- 
less. How I suffered I cannot make you under- 
stand. 

I had been spoiled and pampered and now I had 
to care for myself. This was an experience I did 
not like, but I had to obey. And I had to care for 
others who could not care for themselves. How I 
rebelled and tried to get out of all tasks, but I 
could not do this. The lowest servant in my 
employ on earth never did the things that I was 
compelled to do. By whom you ask? I cannot 
tell. The tasks were before me and a voice I had 
to obey bid me work to earn peace. I at last got 
myself in a condition that I did not rebel, but 
looked for something I could do for others. I 
was among other spirits at this time on the same 
plane as myself. By doing what was required of 
me I raised myself out of my low condition, and 
I have for many years enjoyed happiness that 
those of earth can know nothing of. 



CHAPTER XXIX 

I AM a Hindu and lived on earth before the 
Christ. I had great authority over my people. 
We believed in the teachings of Buddha, which 
are much like those of Jesus. 

Your religions are all based on your Bible. The 
so-called sayings of Jesus in your New Testament 
are, many of them, very different from what Jesus 
really taught. The books of the whole Bible are 
very unreliable. Many of them were written auto- 
matically by inspiration from the spirit world. No 
prophet, seer or medium is infallible. Mistakes 
have always occurred in getting ideas from the 
spirit world and probably always will. 

The translations through which the books of the 
Bible have passed have changed their meaning to 
such an extent that some parts the authors would 
hardly recognize as their own. If these facts were 
known and acknowledged the Bible would not be 
considered infallible. 

Because you can get messages from spirits, 
either in writing, as was the case with much of 
the Bible, or clairvoyantly, by seeing, clair 
audiently, by hearing, or intuitively, some have 
mistakenly thought the messages from the other 
world must be correct or the medium a fraud. 
They do not consider what difficulties we have to 
overcome to get even a part of the truth to those 
living on earth. If you understood this you would 
not wonder that mistakes occur and would be ever 



FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL 89 

ready to make allowance. How often a message 
over the telegraph or telephone is misinterpreted 
and causes confusion, and yet no blame is at- 
tached to the operator. Yet when you get a mes- 
sage through a human instrument that we work so 
hard to give, if some mistake occurs, how often 
the first thought* is that the medium is a fraud! 

Another of your greatest mistakes is that you 
think all coming from spirits should be truth, that 
spirits know everything and what is best. Yet 
you would not follow a friend's advice on earth 
unless it appealed to your reason. This is what 
you should do with the advice given from spirits. 
They may be mistaken, as may you. They can- 
not always tell what is best for you to do. True, 
some can see farther than you, but all who may 
reach you cannot. 

Besides this, there may be spirits here ready to 
deceive you and lead you astray. The first lesson 
one on earth should learn is how to protect him- 
self from the influence of spirits who might de- 
ceive and harm him. As a rule, every person is 
most susceptible to the influence of those whom he 
attracts. And he must attract those spirits who 
are in harmony with his life and his predominant 
thoughts. Deceptive thoughts invite and open the 
way for deceptive messages. The best protection 
against bad influences is a noble, unselfish life. 
This draws unselfish spirits and these are a body 
guard. An earnest, honest desire to know of a 
future life is itself the first step and a strong love 
for someone in that life is the next step to the 
free reception of messages. If one earnestly asks 
he will finally receive. 



CHAPTER XXX 

I AM a man that once had a home, wife and 
children in the state of Illinois. I was a farmer 
and had a farm of my own. But for one thing I 
could have been successful and have been living on 
the earth in the flesh to-day and not have been in 
the awful condition I have been in for nineteen 
years of your earth time. The one thing was that 
which has damned more people than anything else. 
It was whisky. I never drank but very little in 
saloons. I was never seen staggering on the 
streets, drunk. My use of it began by my carrying 
it home in a bottle for medicine — for a stimulant 
to keep away chills. I soon took it home in a jug 
and had to go very often for it. I soon got so I 
could not do without it. It began to tell on my 
health. I became frightened then, and went to 
various doctors, but got no relief. The thought 
that I had been deliberately killing myself by 
inches so worked upon me that I commenced to 
weaken mentally. 

For nearly nineteen years I have been a spirit 
and knew it not until a few weeks ago. How have 
I lived? Just as your vagrants or tramps do on 
earth. I roamed from place to place, never hav- 
ing left the earth plane. I lived, though not suf- 
fering as some do, in an awful unrest. My mind 
has only cleared recently and I now understand 
this and many other things of which I have been 
ignorant for so long. I was only partially sane 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 91 

when I entered here and I stayed in the same con 
dition. No one was responsible for this but my- 
self. I would go back to my old home on earth 
and see how much better my wife was doing than 
when I was there and managing things myself. 
I would enter the home; they would not talk 
to me, and ignored my presence. This, I thought, 
was because of my mental trouble. I would go to 
my mother 's home and it was the same. I was so 
treated that I would get very angry with them all. 
I would go to church, but got no comfort there. 
The only comfort I found was with a cousin whom 
I loved as a brother. But it was only when he 
would be under the influence of liquor that I could 
get in touch with him. At such times I could talk 
to him and he would understand and talk to me. 
Whether he remembered this afterwards, when 
he was not under its influence, I do not know. 
They tell me that my desire to get near him and 
talk to him influenced him to drink when he other- 
wise would not have done so. If this is true, I am 
indeed sorry, for there is nothing I would not do 
to make him happy. The last thing I would want 
to do would be to cause him to drink the stuff 
that ruined my own life on earth and caused this 
unrest here for such a long time. 

I had no idea of time when I came here, I was 
in such a mental state, and could not believe it 
possible that I had been here so long, when I 
was told this. I could see my children growing 
to manhood and womanhood, but did not realize 
it on account of my condition. 

On earth I was a strong, healthy man and never 
thought it possible, when I commenced drinking, 



92 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

it could cause my death or do me any harm what- 
ever. Doctors here have told me I had what they 
term alcohol tuberculosis. It caused my cough 
and literally ate up my stomach before it finally 
killed me. Only now do I realize what I have done. 
The years I have been a wanderer have been 
sufficient to even up the score, for now I can see 
clearly and everything looks bright and beautiful. 
I have found my father and a son here in the beau- 
tiful place I can now enter. To tell you I am 
now happy, that my reason is at last restored, is 
putting it mildly. I never wronged anyone know- 
ingly on earth, and my only sin was against my- 
self and the sorrow it caused my loved ones to see 
me do this. We cannot sin even against ourselves 
without paying the penalty. We also injure those 
that love and depend upon us. I caused my wife 
many sorrows, but she has not forgotten me. 
She will never know how I have repented until 
she, too, comes here. 



CHAPTER XXXI 

WHEN on the earth plane many years ago I 
was a dreamer of dreams, in which I had 
great faith. Some would be given in symbols that 
I could always interpret, and many came true. 
After living my allotted time — for I was an old 
man on coming here — I did not lose my interest in 
the earth plane, but have always been interested 
in its progress. So many changes take place in 
a few years we cannot wonder at the changes of 
hundreds of years. 

Is it not a glorious privilege to keep up with all 
progress? I was interested in dreams when on 
earth, therefore it was my delight on coming here 
to search for the cause of such experiences. I 
met with success in my search because of the great 
advantages I found and the advanced scholars of 
this the spirit world. I soon found that dreams 
are caused by the physical condition of the in- 
dividual ; bad dreams arise from overfatigue or a 
disordered or overloaded stomach. I have also 
found, what was not so generally known formerly 
as to-day, that there is a marked difference be- 
tween dreams and visions in enhancement. The 
latter are the dreams that come true. How often 
you hear of or read of people being warned in 
dreams, or have dreams that come true, and have 
wondered at the strange phenomena. Such dreams 
are caused by spirit guides, or loved ones, im- 
pressing minds while the physical bodies are in a 



94 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

state of repose or relaxation. This is the only 
time some individuals can be worked upon by 
their spirit friends and loved ones. 

The experience is so much like a dream that the 
individual cannot distinguish the difference. 
When you hear of some wonderful dream coming 
to warn or tell an individual something he should 
know, you will now understand it is an impres- 
sion from a spirit and is not a dream. I have 
experimented much along this line and have had 
many strange experiences I could relate. I have 
visited many homes on earth and given warnings 
to many individuals who thought they had a 
strange though wonderful dream. I will tell of 
one instance of a young man to whom I was drawn, 
as all must be who are able to do any work on 
earth. I could vibrate or get in touch with him 
only when he was asleep. He was a railroad man 
— an engineer — and in the same manner you of 
earth get impressions from spirits, so we here get 
impressions from higher forces. I received the 
impression that if the young man went out on 
such an evening an accident would occur that 
would cripple him for life, but would not kill him. 
If he would not go it could be averted. I went to 
him while he was sleeping very heavily, for he 
was tired after making a long trip. It was hard 
to get what I wished impressed on his mind suf- 
ficiently for him to remember it the next morning, 
but I persevered, and for three nights I worked 
with him, telling him the same thing. He did not 
think much about it the first night, but after the 
third night he was very much troubled, and de- 
cided to heed the warning, and the accident did 



FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL 95 

not occur. He never knew that by his not going 
out on that especial trip the accident was pre- 
vented, for it would have been caused by himself. 
As nothing happened to the train, he just thought 
himself foolish to have let his dream, as he 
thought, influence him. He understands now, for 
he, too, is here, and is also interested along this 
line. Strange, wonderful things occur every day 
that you cannot always account for. We are learn- 
ing new truths each day and even to us who have 
been here many, many years, this is an almost 
undiscovered country. It will always continue to 
give us something new to hand on down to you 
when you are capable of understanding it. 



s 



CHAPTER XXXII 

I WAS one of the unfortunate ones of earth, for 
I was an imbecile, or idiot, as you of earth 
call us. All I ever knew of my earth life I have 
learned since coming here, for no gleam of rea- 
son or intelligence ever came to me in my eigh- 
teen years of earth life. My father was a drunk- 
ard. My mother, never strong physically or men- 
tally, by the abuse of my father, entirely lost her 
reason before I was born. Such were the condi- 
tions in which I entered my earth existence. My 
body was deformed and I could only feel pain 
and hunger without the faculty of making it 
known. My mother only lived a short time after 
I was born and I was placed in an institution 
for such unfortunates, where I was kindly treated. 
My awakening, or real birth, came when I en- 
tered this life and it is impossible to describe it. 
I was a woman grown to maturity with no more 
knowledge than a new-born babe. Yet I was able 
to understand in a few weeks what the babe, on 
coming here, has to grow into. This was my ad- 
vantage. I did not have to recall any wrongdoing 
or unlearn anything I had been misinformed in, 
as most do. My spirit faculties were developed so 
that the higher forces or spirit individuals who 
had reached an advanced state of progression 
could more easily teach me than they can the 
learned and educated of earth. These have to rid 
themselves of so much mistaken education that 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 97 

it takes longer for them to understand, while I 
was ready to accept spirit truths without question. 
I soon learned that nature is the all in all and 
never makes a mistake. 

What was my life for with its blank page of 
eighteen years? you ask. I do not know. Yet I 
believe it served some purpose that it was intended 
it should. Nature comprises all there is in exist- 
ence and gives all a problem to study that eter- 
nity cannot solve. Each may be satisfied with 
his own solution of its mystery, but its grandeur 
and magnitude are beyond conception. I am 
happy. I wonder if there are others as happy. 
Yet I realize that all who earn happiness gain it 
at some time, yet I did not have to work for this 
on coming into this beautiful life. This perhaps 
explains the problem of my earth existence. Had 
I been intelligent, what might not my earth life 
have been, being brought into existence under the 
conditions I have described? 

Nature takes care of her own and do not doubt 
her being able to do so. Although we may not 
understand, I realize, as you all will some day, 
that whatever is, is best, and is planned by a 
power that is divine — that cannot err. Not in the 
dawning of the morning, but in the coming ages 
will your minds become capable of understanding. 
There is nothing that you will not be able to com- 
prehend except the one great mystery which, if 
solved, would cause absolute annihilation, for 
then progression would cease, as there would be 
nothing more to be desired. This is the opinion 
of one who is desirous of doing some good, be it 
ever so little. 



98 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

I am not greatly interested in the earth plane, 
but want to learn of the realms of spirit. I have 
written this by request of the Washington Band. 
They asked me to write, knowing that people have 
often wondered in what condition such as I was 
on earth enter into the spirit world. I have told, 
as plainly as I know how, of my own individual 
experience, which I believe is the same as with 
all others so afflicted. 



CHAPTEE XXXIII 

I WAS one who was called a religious fanatic. 
I wanted to start a new sect, with myself as 
the head, and count my followers by the thou* 
sands. I was earnest at first and thought I was 
called to do a great work in the world. But I soon 
found the people who came under my influence fol- 
lowed me blindly. Then the desire for wealth 
and power overcame all the good plans I had 
formed and I worked for nothing else. 

It is a strange thing to me, even now, to look 
back over my experiences and see how easily 
people can be duped when it comes to religion. It 
only shows how the world is striving for enlight- 
enment, but in their eagerness they can be led by 
any strong-minded man or woman who gives them 
something new. No matter how ridiculous it may 
be, there are always some to whom it will appeal 
and they think they alone have found the truth. 
I founded a colony and lived like a king. But 
I was then an old man and did not hold my power 
long. Yet wealth was gained and I enjoyed my 
power. I did not know that, on coming here into 
the unknown, I would bitterly repent of what I 
had taught and be able to look on my deluded 
followers, and see what I had done. I now per- 
ceived that they would come into this life mis- 
informed and I was the cause. My grief and re- 
morse have been great and my work is still among 
those people. I use all the influence I can com- 



100 FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL 

mand to undo my work and it is no easy task. 
I go to their temple, and instead of accomplish- 
ing what I wish, it seems I only stir up strife 
among them and I can see little progress. How 
often I have regretted what I did. If I had only 
gone on as sincerely as when I started I could have 
accomplished some good, but the love of wealth 
and power was too great a temptation for me 
and I worked for these ends. So I must now work, 
as I never did on earth, to undo this. And I can 
tell you it is very discouraging. There are many 
here such as I in the same condition of unrest, 
working now for the good of those we misled. 
But seeing such small or even no progress is the 
greatest punishment for us. It shows us our 
weakness, but when on earth it showed our 
strength. If you on earth wish to give something 
new to the world, be sure you are sincere and are 
not giving it for your own benefit. Even if you 
are mistaken yet sincere it will not cause you any 
sorrow here. But otherwise you will regret it in 
bitterness of spirit such as you cannot now dream. 
I can see now that I shall some day be happy, but 
not until I can change the conditions on earth that 
I made. I have been able to do a little, but not 
what I wish. I have many helpers with me and 
hope some day to clear the minds of all those I 
influenced and taught wrongly. Then I can be 
happy and go on progressing. 



CHAPTER XXXIV 

I HAVE only been here a few short weeks, but 
many are the wonders I have seen. I am pleased 
with this opportunity of letting my loved ones 
know how it is with John, and that I am more 
alive than I ever was in my twenty-six years of 
earth life. The folks have the right idea of my 
accident. I was careless, and when I struck a 
deep hole with the pole with which I was pushing 
myself across the river on the raft, it caused me 
to plunge head first into the water, and the shock 
and my heavy clothing prevented me from making 
any effort to save myself. I never rose to the sur- 
face. 

I can hardly explain my sensation; it was not 
one of pain. My first thought when I realized I 
was drowned was that my earth life is taken even 
as I have just taken the lives of the birds. Then 
for the first time in my life I realized the cruelty 
of the hunter, when it is not necessary to kill for 
food, but to kill for sport. I believed in eternal 
life, but had no idea of how such life existed. I 
had friends who believed in spiritualism and this 
interested me, and also aided me in understanding 
things here. My brother came and took me away, 
so I did not see them find my body. We did not 
go with them to my funeral, for my brother, who 
had grown to manhood, and now looked like his 
twin brother on earth, would not let me. He said 
I was not yet strong enough to see the grief of 



102 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

my parents and brothers and sisters, but he said 
we would go later when they felt more resigned. 

It was a shock to them that will never be for- 
gotten while they are on earth. My only sorrow 
was for them. Though young in years, with the 
prospect of a long life before me, I realize even 
now it was for the best and that I shall escape 
sorrow untold by my early entrance into eternal 
life. Think of the pleasure it will be to me to 
visit all parts of the world and, I am told, many 
more worlds when I have progressed enough to 
do so. I was a roamer, with the desire to see and 
learn of different places, and these desires can 
now so easily be gratified without money or toil. 

I can now go to Panama in a few moments, while 
it took me days when I was on earth. I can view 
the work there with the clear vision of spirit, and 
see mistakes in the work that I could not when 
there. I do not feel the heat of the climate as I 
did, but can see its beauty as never before. I 
fear the canal will never be the success that is 
expected of it, for there are many flaws in the 
construction and climatic conditions are not in 
its favor. But many here are watching it with 
interest. I was interested in this kind of work on 
earth, so why should I not be now? I have oppor 
tunities that I never could have had on earth of 
learning along these lines. So do not think, you 
who recognize me, that I regret my going, for I 
do not. I am only glad that I have made the 
change that you all must make. 

How pleased I was to learn that no life can be 
blotted out. The little birds that I killed in my 
last act on earth are living, happy creatures here 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 103 

in spirit, more beautiful still than they were on 
earth. So it is with all living things. The change 
of death purifies all bird and animal life. Birds 
are beautiful here beyond description. 



CHAPTER XXXV 



IT was Christmas at the poorhouse, 
An old woman sat forlorn, 
Wondering for what purpose 
She was ever born. 

Eighty years' work for others 

Is ended at last, you see. 
Now I'm "Old Peg o'the Poorhouse," 

And not one remembers me. 

Memory takes me backward 

To the place I first saw the light, 

In a little home in the country, 
And it was on Christmas night. 

I was happy in my childhood, 
Oft tripping over the snow 

To the little country schoolhouse 
When the winter winds did blow. 

For the schoolhouse was the center 

Of all our youthful joys, 
For there we always gathered, 

We country girls and boys. 

'Twas there we had our Christmas tree, 
All loaded with gifts and light. 

Then I was Margaret Weatherby, 
And a country belle that night. 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 105 

It was there I met my Donald — 
My lad who was brave and true. 

We had two years of happiness, 
When he donned his country's blue. 

They sent him home — he was dying — 

To me and his baby dear. 
And my grief — it was so bitter 

That I could not shed a tear. 

I tried to live for my baby, 
And struggled in hope, alone, 

Thinking I might be happy 
When my little Donald was grown. 

But even this was denied me. 

Before one year had fled 
My beautiful boy was lying 

In the churchyard's narrow bed. 

Life held for me then no purpose, 

And death past me would fly; 
To me it would have been welcome 

As the lonely years went by. 

Now I'm "Old Peg o'the Poorhouse," 
And have not one friend on earth. 

Just eighty years this very night 

Since the Christmas that gave me birth. 



where did you come from, husband? 

Did you come that I might sever 
My connection with the poorhouse, 

And be Peg o' your heart forever? 



106 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

That I can leave this tired old body 
And be young and glad once more, 

And live with you and Donald 
On yonder beautiful shore? 

Thus they found ' ' Peg o 'the Poorhouse, ' ' 
The sun shone on her white hair. 

At last she had found her loved ones 
And a home most sweet and fair. 



CHAPTER XXXVI 

ANOTHER mother wishes to give her experi- 
ence. I came here, as near as I can remem- 
ber, about thirty-seven or thirty-eight years ago. 
It is very hard to be exact in regard to time, for 
we count it as naught on this side of life. We 
know eternity is before us and time matters not, 
I came here while still young in years, leaving five 
little children behind me, practically, as I soon 
saw, to shift for themselves. When their father 
left me a widow I had not the means to keep them 
with me, but gave them into the keeping of my 
husband's sisters. How I longed to make it possi- 
ble to have them all with me again, but this I was 
never able to do. 

I went to care for a sick friend whose sickness 
developed into the cholera, which at that time was 
raging over the state of Illinois. I took it and 
never recovered or was able to look on the faces 
of my little ones again while in the body, but I 
have watched them unseen and know them better 
than had we lived in the same house on earth all 
these years. I want my boys to know that my 
whole aim while in earth life was to have them 
with me again. I was working with this end in 
view when death changed my plans for me, and 
I had to leave them. While we have not been 
parted, I have had to live unseen and unknown by 
them. That is one cause of sorrow for me. 

How often, oh how often, have I followed them 



108 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

to places to which I did not want them to go — 
into barrooms where many spirit mothers stand 
by the side of son or husband, trying to persuade 
them in their silent, unseen way to leave the ac- 
cursed places, and go to their homes. Sometimes 
I have been able to do this and sometimes I have 
failed; but our patience never falters, and we are 
there again the next time. While I have never 
been able to influence them to quit drinking, I 
have always, so far, been able to keep them from 
getting killed or injured. 

For this I am thankful, for I do not want them 
to come here to work out of this condition, as 
they must, if they do not fight against it on earth. 
All bad habits must be conquered, and it is easier 
done while still on earth. It does not take long. 
Make up your mind, be firm and the battle is 
fought that will make you happier and make 
mothers in spirit happy beyond expression. We 
are not always on the earth plane with our loved 
ones. But we, in our beautiful homes in the skies, 
can tell instantly by intuition, when our dear ones 
need or want us; and we go at once from any 
distance to the earth and help them in our silent 
way. The fathers, too, are interested in their 
children's welfare; but a father's love is not like 
a mother's. A father can easily be weaned away 
from his children by new interests, but a mother 
never. The happiest day that will ever dawn for 
me will be when I have them all safe with me 
here. Yet I know I shall have to wait many years. 
All are older in years now than I was at the time 
of my coming and they were so young that they 
scarcely remember ever having a mother. But it 



FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL 109 

is the truth that no mother ever forgets her own, 
no matter how long the separation. 

Time and space are unlimited. Years count as 
naught. As ages roll on, we only gain in knowl- 
edge. We retain our youth always with no pain 
or ache in our spiritual bodies. We can go and 
come at will any distance, in a moment of time, 
with no conveyance but our desire. If we desire 
to go to a certain place, there we are. It is a 
mistaken way to put it, to tell you we are always 
with you. This is not true. But we are always 
in touch, we will say, for this expresses it the 
best. We know when you want us or have need 
of us and we come at once and do what we can, 
then return again to our homes. We do what 
pleases us best and are not required to do what 
is distasteful to us after we have made all wrongs 
of earth life right. 



CHAPTEE XXXVII 

YOU have read of the experience of mothers. 
I will now tell you of the experience of one 
that refused this sacred, natural duty. I lived 
on earth many years ago, but to-day there are 
more women following in my footsteps than ever 
before. Let me tell you what may be their fate 
through relating my own experiences. I was rich 
in my own right and my husband had great wealth 
also. All my ambition in life was to procure 
jewels, to gain admiration, and to be a leader in 
society. I was beautiful and I used everything 
money could buy that was beautiful to adorn my- 
self. My husband was proud of me and I loved 
him, but I loved myself and the admiration of 
others more. Children I thought of with contempt 
and would have none of them, for I did not want 
to lose my beauty of form. So I resorted to abor- 
tion time and time again. But instead of keeping 
my beauty by this means, it was the very thing 
that caused me to lose it and helped to send me 
early into spirit life a pauper, without a home. 
Here I found myself in an agony of mind that 
I cannot picture to you. I had never had to even 
put on my own shoes, or comb my own hair, hav- 
ing maids from childhood to wait upon me. Im- 
agine my condition, if you can, on rinding myself 
in a world where all must wait on themselves and 
care for themselves. I could not get into my old 



FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL 111 

home on earth. I found myself on what appeared 
to me a desert. No homes were there. 

I suffered, not with cold or heat, but- in mind. 
I could look upon myself and see my beauty gone 
and myself hideous to my own sight. But the 
worst of all was my loneliness. I afterwards 
learned that such was my condition, though spirits 
could approach me, I could not see them or know 
they were near. Yet they were watching over 
me, the same as they are over you on earth, 
though unseen and unknown by you until you 
make a way possible for them to let you know of 
their presence and help. This I had to do. I had 
to sutler alone till I realized the cause of this 
condition. 

Then worse agony was in store for me; for 
nothing can equal the torture of remorse. I in- 
quired at last what I could do to better my con- 
dition ! The answer came to me out of the silence : 
"Go to the slums of your city and there work 
among the infants that are brought into existence 
in poverty and disease.' ' I hesitated for a time, 
but the voice again bade me go, and I consented. 
No sooner did I give my consent than I found 
myself there among wretchedness that I never 
knew existed. I wondered what they would think 
of my presence, but I knew I would never be rec- 
ognized, for I was clothed in a somber robe that 
fell in long, loose lines about me, so that my own 
husband would never have recognized his once 
beautiful wife. But I soon found they could not 
see me. At first I thought that even these people 
ignored me, but I soon found they could neither 
see me nor sense my presence, but the wailing, 



112 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

suffering infants could, and my work commenced. 
I could touch them and quiet their pain when 
their mothers could do nothing with them. Many 
are the babes I saved to live a life of great useful- 
ness in the world. I do not know how long I 
worked in this way, but it was years. 

I was not long alone, for when my earnestness 
in the work began many lovely spirits came to 
my assistance and the work I once shrank from 
I then began to love. At last that part of my 
nature which had lain dormant all my earth life 
began to be awakened. It was mother love. It is 
a natural attribute and if not awakened in earth 
life it is likely to be here. 

Now, another sorrow came. I realized that I 
could never feel the touch of my own babies ' 
hands or ever hear child of mine call me by the 
sacred name of mother. You have read of soul 
germs and that they cannot be killed, which is 
true. If I had had my mother-nature developed 
to the extent that I wanted children, I would have 
found them in spirit. But I did not do this and 
they reincarnated and are children of another 
who let them find their earth expression by being 
born naturally; and I shall never know who or 
what they are. This is a regret that I have never 
been able to get over and I do not know whether 
I ever shall or not. I have a beautiful home and 
surroundings here now that I have earned. But 
for this drawback I could be happy. I am told 
that happiness will, some day, be mine, but it has 
been long in coming. Yet I know no one is to 
blame but myself. If our ideas of right and 
wrong are dwarfed on earth, we have to work our- 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 118 

selves up to a higher standard here. Then our 
real education will begin. By our own efforts 
only can we gain the happiness which is possible 
for us to enjoy. 



CHAPTER XXXVIII 

I WILL not speak of my earth life only that I 
had consumption, the kind that develops slowly 
and wears life away. I thought I was prepared 
to die and would welcome a release from suffer- 
ing. I trusted to a Savior that I thought had for- 
given my sins and would welcome me to eternal 
rest and release from pain. I was not a young 
man and in my youth I had wronged many. This 
I had in a measure forgotten. I had been tortured 
so long with the terrible cough that I prayed al- 
most unceasingly and thought I was forgiven and 
at peace with my Maker. 

I came here suddenly at the last, when I was 
not expecting it. All at once I felt perfectly 
strong and vigorous. All pain left me. I could 
see no Savior or golden streets. What I viewed 
was a very natural sight that one could see every 
day. I had not left the earth. I walked about 
the place. It was summer and everything looked 
beautiful. Now that I was free from physical 
pain, I could see beauty in everything. I knew 
that I had changed, but I was not sure that it 
was death, for I was not expecting anything like 
this. I felt the health and strength that was 
mine in my youth. 

I went into the house, and never shall I forget 
that sight. My wife was growing old. Her hair 
was like silver in its whiteness. She was kneel- 
ing there over my emaciated body, that looked 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 115 

horrible to me, in such sorrow and grief. How 
everything came back to me then. How I had 
neglected her in so many ways, taking all her 
care and devotion as my right and even thinking, 
many times, I was not treated as I deserved, I 
was so extremely selfish. Oh! how I tried to get 
her to understand I was not there and to ask 
her to forgive me for all my harsh words and 
unkindness; but I could not make her hear. 

My agony was far greater than her own, for 
she had nothing to regret and I had. How clearly 
I could now see, and how bitterly I repented. If 
I could only have gone back into that old worn- 
out body, how gladly I would have done so, even 
to suffer again the wrecking cough, if, by this 
means, I could make up to her my neglect and 
unkindness and think only of her and her comfort 
for a few more years. But this I could not do. 
My sorrow was so great that eternity can never 
efface it from my memory. 

I loved her dearly, but never showed it. Now 
it was too late to let her know. I could see all 
she had suffered through her love for me. I hope 
that those who read this will be kind to their own 
and never do and say things that they will re- 
gret. It may not always be easy to do this, but, 
oh ! it will pay. I tried to comfort her, but could 
not do it. 

It was not long till she, too, came here. When 
I saw this change coming, how glad I was, for 
I thought, "Now I can make it up to her." But 
my joy was only short lived; for, when she en- 
tered here, she was far above me in progression 
and my power to reach her was in vain. Thus 



116 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

my sorrow was greater than ever. But I soon 
learned that I can, by earnest effort, reach her 
state, and we can be happy together at last. There 
was so much I had to make right that my own 
progression has been slow, but I can see a happy 
reunion in the distance. She has been a great 
help to me and has taught me much. But I have 
to work myself. When I am able to reach her side 
and we can work hand in hand and in harmony 
of spirit together, such great happiness will be 
mine that I wonder if I shall care to farther pro- 
gress. But I am assured that we can go on and 
on together and greater joys will be ours. 

We lived together over thirty-eight years, had 
a family of children that grew up and had homes 
of their own, and we were not happy. Yet love 
was in our hearts for each other. It was all my 
fault that inharmony existed. We were mated 
on earth for eternity, yet I had to enter here to 
find this out and that it was my own cruelty and 
unkindness that caused our unhappiness on earth. 
She has been waiting for me all these years and 
the day is now not far distant when I shall again 
live in her presence and we be happy together 
forever. 



CHAPTER XXXIX 

I AM of the African race. I was born a slave 
and never knew freedom till I found it here. 
Was I black? Yes, so black that, as the saying 
is> "Charcoal would have made a white mark on 
my face." Am I black now that I am a spirit? 
No, yet I am still a negro. When I come to earth 
again I am still black, for I take on my old earth 
conditions and therefore must look as I did on 
earth. While we are not black here, we are not 
white unless we desire to be. Yet we are as beau- 
tiful as any. The most of us desire a rich, dark 
color. Very few stay entirely as they were on 
earth. As our lives were, so are we. If we were 
good then we are beautiful in face and form; if 
not, we are dwarfed and hideous as are the spirits 
of all races. As the flowers of earth vary, so we 
of different races vary here. All have their own 
particular beauty, yet all are different. 

I cannot say that, even though a slave on earth, 
I was unhappy; for I had a kind master; and 
my lot was better than many that are free to-day. 
Are you not all on earth either masters or slaves 1 
You who have to toil for daily bread and some- 
times have to take all kinds of abuse are in as 
bad a condition as were we. I sometimes think, 
as I look over the earth and see it as it is, that 
we fared the best. The slaves, while not having 
the best by any means, never suffered for food 
or clothing. It did not pay our masters to abuse 



118 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

us in this way. It made us unfit for work, and 
work was what was required of us. So, on the 
whole, we were not badly treated. It was the old 
story that caused all the trouble — the greed of 
gold by the masters. 

They began a traffic in human life to gain gold. 
But the great Civil War, that freed our race from 
the traffic of openly buying and selling, did not 
end slavery by any means. To-day the slaves of 
earth are counted by the hundreds of thousands 
and they are in a much worse condition than were 
we. Capital is the master and labor its slaves. 
The majority of the wealthy on earth would sell 
people body and soul, if they could, to gain more 
gold. Money is rightly called "the root of all 
evil. ,, For it, intoxicating liquors are manufac- 
tured, which destroy the body and bring misery 
to the soul. Yet people cannot live in modern 
civilized countries without it. 

The spirit world is the only place it counts as 
naught. All the gold one could handle in a life- 
time can do him no good here. Furthermore, if 
he has gained it by fraud, or by enslaving those 
that earned it for him or did not give them fair 
return for their labor, he will wish, when he comes 
here, that he had been a pauper. It will be the 
means of causing him great suffering. He and 
those like him can then see the suffering they have 
caused others by making them labor from early 
morning till late at night and not giving them 
even a living wage. 

Such slavery, as I view it from this side of life, 
I consider worse than that in which I lived. But 
we have hope that conditions will change for the 



FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL 11» 

better and that all may have a better chance than 
they have at present. But I fear things will grow 
even worse before this change will take place. 
However, it is bound to come. Labor will demand 
its rights and will get them, too; for, without 
labor nothing can be accomplished. 



CHAPTER XL 

I AM a woman and was born in slavery. I was 
born in South Carolina and my earliest recol- 
lections are of a little cabin home among the mag- 
nolia trees near the cotton fields. I had a kind 
master, and one that took great pride in his slaves. 
He did not treat them harshly, but made them 
work. The overseers were not so kind and many 
received the lash that our master never knew any- 
thing about. I grew to womanhood in the cotton 
fields and I was happy. In the evening we would 
all gather at some cabin and sing and dance till 
the small hours. In the morning we would again 
go to work. If I could always have lived under 
this master and married one of his slaves, as I 
intended doing, I would have been spared great 
suffering. 

But a rich planter noticed me one day when 
he was riding with master over the plantation 
and wanted to buy me for a house servant. My 
master at first refused. But as he was offered a 
good price and was pressed at this time for ready 
money, he at last consented and I had to go. He 
wanted the man to buy Martin also, so we could 
be together and be married as we had planned. 
This he promised to do a little later; but it was 
only in order to get me. He had no intention of 
doing this. 

My life was accursed from that hour. I was 
not fit for the housework and knew nothing about 



FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL 121 

it. This would anger my master's wife and she 
would treat me very cruelly. At last, after vain 
efforts to please her, I was told I would have to 
work in the fields again. This I was glad to do, 
but the slaves here were not treated as they were 
by my old master, and Martin was never per- 
mitted to see me. I was told I could have a little 
cabin by myself, by my master. But I did not 
want this, for I was afraid. But in the end I had 
to submit and my master gained the desire that 
he had planned from the first. My heart was 
given to one of my own race and I had the true 
woman's instinct to be true to myself, which every 
woman possesses for her protection, no matter 
whether a slave girl or a lady. But what was I 
to do when I was not allowed to do this? 

I had to submit to my owner. Then such a hell 
of anger entered my heart for the whole white 
race that I determined to be revenged. I did not 
have to work in the fields now that I had found 
favor with my master. But I was biding my time. 
I had hidden in my bosom the dagger that I, at 
last, got the opportunity to use in striking home 
into the heart of the dastard who ruined many 
poor, innocent slave girls in the same manner. I 
took to the swamps and for days I had nothing to 
eat but roots and wild fruit, but I existed till I 
got word, by meeting one of my old master's 
slaves, to Martin, that I was fleeing for my life 
and of what I had done. I knew they would not 
betray me. I also knew he would not dare come 
with me, for we would be too easily tracked and 
captured. Well, it was some time before I finally 
gave up. I had nowhere to go. No one would 



122 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

take in a runaway slave. I knew if the blood- 
hounds got on my track they would make short 
work of me. So I did what many poor slave girls 
had to do. I jumped or rather fell — for my 
strength was gone — into a peaceful southern river 
that closed over my poor, tired body and gave me 
the comfort I craved. I never made a struggle; 
neither did I feel pain, but only a sense of rest 
and security that I never knew before. I do not 
know how long I stayed in this pleasant, dreamy 
state. 

People of my own race were around me when 
I awoke to consciousness. They told me to fear 
not, for nobody could harm me now; that I was 
beyond the power of masters to harm, and that I 
was a slave no more, but free as the birds I had 
so often envied. Peace and happiness have always 
been mine since coming here. But not so with 
my master. How he begged my forgiveness for 
wronging me and how he has had to atone for his 
sins ! Justice could not condemn me for stopping 
his career of crime, so I never suffered for his 
murder. There are always two sides to everything, 
and here is the only place we can see and judge 
correctly. While the open traffic in human life 
was put a stop to by our great martyr, Lincoln, 
whom we here all revere and love, you to-day 
need another Lincoln to put a stop to the white 
slave traffic which is a blot on civilization and 
worse than the slavery of my time. 



CHAPTER XLI 

I WAS a child of the street. I belonged to those 
of whom many know so little that they class 
them all together as undesirables. I wish to give 
my side of the story. Home, I can say, I never 
had. I never had the influence of a mother's love. 
If I had only known, as I now do, that a loving 
mother was watching me from her heavenly home, 
what a difference it would have made in my life. 
I was taken from an orphans' home into a family 
that cared nothing for me, only what I was able 
to do for them. I worked early and late, and 
received nothing but unkind treatment. I was 
only about ten years old at the time I was taken 
from the home where, if I was not happy, I was 
not unkindly treated, and where we all fared 
alike. The home I was taken into had children 
of about my own age. While they had pleasures 
and fine clothing, I was neglected and only knew 
hard work. This made me envious of them and 
when I got a few years older I determined to en- 
joy life myself. I would slip out of the house 
after all thought I was in bed, for this was the 
only time I could get. I could not meet anyone 
in this manner who was good, but I did not know 
this then. The companions I made soon led me 
into vice, of which I did not even know the nature. 
I was ignorant, and innocent, and easily led. I 
had grown very pretty and made friends wherever 
I went. Oh, how I craved love, and kindness! 



124 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

If I had only received these from the family with 
whom I lived, I would not now be writing this. 
They have much to answer for. My first mistake 
was to go to the dance halls, and from there into 
the wine-rooms. Then my downward course was 
fast. Someone told the people where I lived that 
I was frequenting the dance halls, and had been 
seen with questionable company. They asked me 
of this. I did not deny it, but told them I had 
to have some amusement and, as they never per- 
mitted me to have any, I just took it as my right 
and would do as I pleased. Well, they turned me 
from their doors. They were very religious peo- 
ple and went to church very regularly. I went 
to my companions and we drifted together. If 
we sinned, we also suffered. But what were we 
to do? No one held out a helping hand or ever 
encouraged us to make a new start in life. Some 
who lead a life of crime and sin have happy homes 
and good parents, who tried to bring them up 
properly, I know. But it is not so with the ma- 
jority. And who are you to judge! You can 
never see clearly till you come here, where all 
wrongs must be righted. 

I did not live long on earth. My health was 
never good, and I soon came here. I died on the 
streets, the only home I ever had on earth, of 
hemorrhage of the lungs. None ever gave a 
thought of pity that one so young in years should 
go in this way, but were glad the city was well 
rid of such as I. 

Well, how did I fare when I came to conscious 
ness here? Pious people who draw their skirts 
away for fear of contamination will no doubt be 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 125 

surprised. An angel mother, more beautiful than 
any picture I had ever beheld, took me in her 
arms and said, "You are my beloved daughter, 
and if you have sinned your sufferings on earth 
have paid the debt and now I can take you with 
me to a home the first, my child, that has ever 
opened its doors in love. ,, Can anyone imagine 
m Y j°y — niother, home and heaven — all mine at 
last : not for a time, but for eternitv ! 



CHAPTEE XLII 

I AM a suffragette. I have not been here long, 
but long enough to know the time is ripe for 
our work, and it must continue. I am an English 
woman. I rejoice at the large number of women 
in America who are in sympathy with, and work- 
ing for the same cause. Many of you are criticiz- 
ing us for being so radical and resorting to vio- 
lence to gain our ends. The stories have been 
greatly exaggerated by the press. The majority 
of the papers that are published are against us. 
They do not give correct accounts, and only pub- 
lish one side of the story. Men must finally give 
us equal rights with them. Why should they set 
themselves on a higher plane when they owe their 
very existence to woman? She it is who suffers to 
give them birth, yet they, when grown to man- 
hood, think themselves so superior and so much 
more capable than even the women who are bet- 
ter educated and better informed on current 
events of the day. They are so unfair as to think 
women are not capable of casting the vote that 
gives to the man elected the power to make the 
laws under which she has to live and work and 
which she must obey. While I regret that the 
English suffragettes, of whom I am still one, had 
to resort to violence before they could get a hear- 
ing or any notice whatever paid to them, they 
were so insignificant in the sight of men, yet we 
have started the ball rolling that will gather ad- 
herents from all over the world. 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 127 

We on this side are still as eager as any; and 
are helping by standing by our leaders, and giv- 
ing them of our help and influence in all ways 
we can. There are many on this side watching 
the struggle. I was enthused to such an extent 
that my coming into the spirit world hardly 
changed me at all. Although I thought my work 
as a militant suffragette would end when I found 
I must die, my surprise and pleasure were great 
when I found that I was the same person and 
could work with the many I found here who are 
interested in the cause. If my co-workers on earth 
could realize that I am still with them, I should 
be greatly pleased. I can do more now than I 
ever could before for the cause I love. There is 
every reason to be encouraged. You will win in 
the end. Men will not always consent to putting 
their mothers, their wives and their daughters on 
a lower plane of life than themselves. My mes- 
sage to all womankind is to stand up bravely for 
your rights — to gain that which should be yours 
without even the asking — the right to be the co- 
worker and have equal rights with man. 



CHAPTEE XLIII 

THIS book would scarcely be complete without 
the experience of a preacher. My earth life 
I will not dwell upon only to say I was a Meth- 
odist minister and sincerely tried to practice 
what I myself preached. My home life was very 
happy, with wife and children. My greatest 
pleasure was to gather the children of my con- 
gregation about me in Sunday school and hear 
them sing the songs that I loved. How my heart 
would throb with gratitude to the God I wor- 
shiped for giving me this work to do. But when 
I would get settled and begin, as I thought, to 
accomplish something, conference would send me 
to some other place. This is one of the mistakes 
of our church, as I can now see. 

I came here while still comparatively young 
in years. I soon found how very little people of 
earth know of a future life with all their colleges 
that are supposed to be authority on all theologi- 
cal points. I was at first, I must admit, chagrined 
to think I was so badly mistaken. But I soon got 
over this when those I loved who had preceded 
me came to me in this world of beauty and 
grandeur and explained things that had puzzled 
me in my work on earth. I was overjoyed to 
know that things were so much better than I had 
imagined they could be. The worst mistake T 
made was to teach and preach of Jesus' power 
to save to the uttermost and that He was the only 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 129 

begotten Son of a living God. It did not take 
me long to discover this mistake. Jesus of Naz- 
areth, whom I loved and worshiped all my life, 
came to me and taught me the truth. He showed 
me that we are all children of the same God and 
that He was only our elder brother, born as we 
all are, of an earthly father and mother. He 
said he never taught that He was the Savior and 
Eedeemer of the world, but taught all His earth 
life the Golden Eule — To do unto others as you 
would have others do unto you. And that when 
the ruler came to Him to inquire the way of sal- 
vation and what he must do to inherit eternal 
life, He told him he must be born again. Which 
meant being born into the spirit world, which is 
called death. When this is taught from church 
pulpits, there will then be no empty pews. 

But there will have to be radical changes be- 
fore this is brought about. All the old teachers 
such as I was will have to pass away. If the 
ministers of to-day had to depend only on those 
that attend the churches regularly for their sal- 
aries, they would have to beg or starve. Those 
that subscribe the most toward their salaries 
think this justifies them in staying at home or 
going to some place that interests them more. I 
used to condemn such as these very bitterly. But 
I see plainly now I was mistaken. 

The man who stands in the pulpit to-day must 
be progressive and not teach the things Moses 
taught. The rules of the various churches should 
be changed according to the times. The people 
of to-day ought not to be expected to live up to 
the rules of the Methodist church. Those min- 



130 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

isters who want to change the church so that it 
will not tend to make hypocrites of members who 
wish to enjoy innocent pleasures that the church 
has forbidden ought to be encouraged and put to 
the front. The church should teach how to live, 
instead of how to die. If people live right death 
need have no terrors for them. Death is only a 
very short experience and the awakening here is 
glorious. I have investigated all religious faiths 
and creeds and I can see grave mistakes in them 
all. I fear I, too, must admit that it is better to 
have none than to depend on church or faith to 
bring one into happiness here. The golden rule 
is better than all the rules and professions of 
faith or forms of worship of all the churches. 



CHAPTER XLIV 

A SPIKIT SIGNAL 

NOT far from a distant city 
On a warm, bright summer night, 
A train was thundering loudly 
With all its power and might. 

The engineer was sleepy; 

His run was a long, hard test, 
That strained his nerve-tired body. 

He was longing for his rest. 

In a home quite near the railroad 

A child quite sleepless lay; 
Full of unrest, she wondered 

If she couldn't go out and play. 

Perhaps she'd find her mamma, 
But mamma, nurse said, was dead, 

And would come no more to kiss her 
As she lay in her little bed. 

She stepped out of bed so softly 
And wandered out in the night. 

The cool, clear air inspired her; 
She ran with all her might, 

Until she reached the railroad 

And saw the shining track. 
She thought, when she was rested, 

She'd quickly hurry back. 



132 FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL 

But her little feet were weary, 
She soon fell sound asleep. 

Her curly head was lying 

Where the train so soon would creep. 

"What's that red light a-gleaming?" 
Thought the engineer, amazed. 

"The road just here is straightest, 
I must, indeed, be crazed." 

Should he reject the signal? 

He knew his train was late. 
With human lives in keeping, 

He dared not risk their fate. 

He saw a white-robed woman 
With the signal in her hand; 

With a shriek of the engine's whistle, 
Train stopped at its command. 

Frantic, they all were searching. 

The father, in fear and pain, 
Hurried down to the railroad 

To see what had stopped the train. 

' ' I went to find my mamma, 
And she com'd," was all she'd say. 

The father clasped her closely 
And gratefully did pray. 

"Sir, where is the dark-haired lady, 
With the signal in her hand? 

Why didn't she take the darling? 
I do not understand." 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 133 

Eeplied the father, tremblingly, 
So stunned he scarce could speak, 

"It was my baby's mamma. 
She died but just last week." 

Among the many passengers 

But few would ever guess 
That 'twas the angel mother 

That flagged the night express. 



CHAPTEE XLV 

WOULD you care to hear the experience of one 
of a class of men who have caused more 
suffering, both on earth and here in spirit, than 
any others? They are men who have helped to 
fill the penitentiaries, the insane and orphan asy- 
lums, the poorhouse and the potter 's field. I am 
speaking of the saloonkeeper — the man that hands 
over the bar the poison that stains men's souls. I 
lived when on earth in the city of Joliet. Many 
living there to-day would recognize me if I would 
give my name. I kept what was considered a 
decent place. I would not sell to a man who was 
already drunk, but I did what I now know to be 
worse. I started him by selling him drinks when 
he was in his right mind and refused when he 
was no longer responsible. He then went to 
worse places, where he would very often be robbed 
of what money he had when he left my place. 

If the saloonkeepers were made to take care of 
their poor victims there are few that would stay in 
the business. They allow their victims to stay in 
their places only as long as they have money to 
spend ; then, when they are helpless, they put them 
out on the streets, often on cold nights, either to 
freeze or to go home to their families, where they 
are liable to commit murder before the effects of 
the accursed liquor are cleared from their brain. 

Picture my agony of remorse if you can when 
I had to look on all this. Many men patronized 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 135 

my saloon who, I supposed, had plenty of 
money and provided well for their families, be- 
cause they paid me much money and paid 
promptly. But when I came here I could see 
them as they were. I could look into their homes 
and see the poverty existing there. I could see 
many frail, brave little women, bending over the 
washtub to get the very necessaries of life for 
themselves and their little ones, could see the sor- 
row it caused, the bitter tears shed for husbands 
and fathers, the suffering of little, innocent chil- 
dren, crying for something to eat, while the means 
to procure it were handed over the bar. Oh, God ! 
Could any torture be greater! I am not over- 
drawing the picture. How often I have looked on 
just such scenes of suffering since I have entered 
this life. The Bible hell is very mild in compari- 
son to my agony of remorse. If I were to live 
on earth in flesh again, how gladly I would take up 
the pick and shovel to earn my daily bread. Had 
I done this I would not have had to suffer as I 
have. Yet I know and realize that I have got jus- 
tice, for here justice reigns supreme. 

We are not the only ones in spirit life to suffer 
for the liquor traffic. Let us reflect a moment, and 
see where the responsibility really lies. The brew- 
ers are in the same class as are we, and share, I 
think, a greater responsibility. We can go farther, 
The blame must rest where it properly belongs, 
with the government for allowing it to be manu- 
factured. Then, my friends, can you not see that 
a part of the blame rests with yourselves as vot- 
ers and makers of the laws! You see that the 
man that stands behind the bar is not alone re- 



136 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

sponsible, but suffers only for his share in the dis- 
tribution of the poison. I used to think as long 
as it was a legitimate business I had a right to 
keep a saloon, as my not doing so would not les- 
sen the traffic. I might as well have my share of 
the proceeds. Well, so I had. It is for the gov- 
ernment to put a stop to its manufacture and for 
each individual voter to see that it does. Until 
this is done it will continue to be your country's 
curse. Each individual who has a right to vote 
is responsible for conditions as they exist. Yet 
this does not relieve the saloonkeeper, for each 
must suffer for his own share. 

If this should be read by any of my brothers in 
the business, that is a curse to every civilized 
country, my advice is to lay aside the white apron, 
which is a badge of dishonor, and trust to Provi- 
dence to give you a business that will be honor- 
able and will not cause you the suffering that I 
have had to endure. It is no use to say you could 
do nothing else, for there is no greater truth than 
"where there's a will there's a way." Dire want 
is needless in your land of plenty. If you have 
health, strength, ambition and will power to do 
and dare, you cannot help but be successful in any 
honorable business. I want to tell you some of the 
things I have learned here. Through suffering 
we are purified. We get our education through 
actual experience. It matters little the length of 
time we have been here as you count it on earth. 
It is our ability and worthiness that benefit us. 
In the twinkling of an eye some can learn what the 
noted and oducatod of your earth may be years 
after they ^ot hero in finding out by patient study 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 137 

and careful research. We are led by various paths 
through our earth existence, and are still led, when 
we come here, by the unseen power to learn what 
is for our own good. When I entered this world I 
found myself on the earth plane or astral plane, 
where I remained a long time, it seemed to me 
then, looking on the havoc my business had 
wrought. I thought there were none who re- 
quired greater atonement or remorse and sorrow 
for their sins than did such as I. But I am in a 
position now, and have been for some time, to see 
others as I saw myself. 

The saloonkeeper is not alone, by any means. 
You, too, will some day see people whom it will 
surprise you very much to see suffering the same 
agony of regret and remorse as did I for various 
sins of their own that they were able to keep hid 
while on earth, but could not here. I have visited 
various churches of earth and there have seen 
with clear sight many things. I have seen people 
kneeling in churches saying prayers by the yard 
that were written out for them to repeat. What 
good can this do them? I have seen priests and 
preachers standing before large audiences teach- 
ing the way of salvation, with their own hearts as 
black as night. I have seen men and women kneel- 
ing in the amen corner of various churches, with 
long, pious faces, who would frequent the bar- 
rooms and worse resorts under cover of night by 
secret passages, known only to themselves. I have 
visited trumpet and investigating circles where 
the odor of liquor was very apparent and yet they 
expected to get truth from the true. I know abso- 
lutely that you cannot do this, for like attracts 



138 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

like. Many spirits that have not progressed out 
of the earth conditions often mislead without in- 
tending to do so. They can only tell you of what 
they themselves have learned and many are lower 
in the scale of progress than yourselves. Death 
itself is only a change of garments. Because you 
may not be able to understand all phenomena is 
no reason why it may not be true. "You may be 
in the right church, but in the wrong pew," is a 
slang phrase, but contains much of truth. While 
immortality is a truth, while spirit return is a 
truth, while "the door of reformation is never 
closed to any human soul, either here or here- 
after/ ' is a truth, yet from this broad highway 
there are man}^ winding paths that lead one won- 
dering. I have a friend on earth with whom I 
have been experimenting for some time. I can 
go to her in her home and hypnotize or entrance 
her as some can do on the earth plane. When I 
get her under my influence I can tell her she is in 
Egypt, and describe some place I myself have 
visited, and she will get the impressions so accu- 
rately that she believes that her spirit is actually 
there, which is a mistake. Many make this mis- 
take. All so-called soul flights are made in the 
same manner. While true descriptions are given, 
it is done by guides, who can go and come at will 
in an instant of time and who are not hampered 
by their earthly bodies. While a sensitive person 
can sometimes see his own physical body, when 
in an entranced or hypnotized state, he cannot 
leave his body until freed by death. Some sen- 
sitives think they can go to different realms in the 
spirit world also and see the homes of beauty and 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 139 

grandeur there, but it is only pictured to them by 
their own spirit friends. Yet it serves the same 
purpose. Guides can also go to different places 
and represent the ones through whom they work. 
They can imitate their voice through a trumpet so 
genuinely that those hearing it are deceived. I 
do not know what good can be accomplished by 
this unless it is done to show what the wonderful 
power of thought can accomplish, for the ones that 
are represented must send their thoughts there 
for the guide to express to do this. Yet it leads 
many in one of the winding paths. 

Some of your workers claim they can go in 
spirit to the astral plane to help some spirit in 
darkness there. True, many on earth can help 
spirits here, but the spirits are taken to them for 
their magnetic influence; they do not go to the 
spirits. None who have ever experienced these 
things will believe them until they come here. 
Their experience is so vivid and genuine and they 
can remember it so clearly that they are honest 
and sincere in believing and stating that they actu- 
ally leave their bodies. 

How often do you have dreams that are so much 
like actual experiences that you can scarcely, after 
awakening, realize that you are not at the certain 
place of your dream. Yet it takes only a few 
moments to dream what would take days to go 
through by actual experience. It is very easy 
for the guide to picture any place to your con- 
sciousness that he wishes by impression. This is 
another winding path that many are traveling. 

Remembrance of various reincarnations is com- 
mon. This is caused by guides or loved ones who 



140 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

are drawn to you by attraction, trying to tell you 
by impression, of their own lives, who they were 
and where they lived when on earth. You may 
get it very truly and clearly, yet it is their own 
experience and never yours. You live on the earth 
in flesh and blood but once and can never pass 
through that way again. 

I have written this by request and make no apol- 
ogies if my views of life, as I have found it, do 
not appeal to your reason. What I have told you 
will perhaps be criticized, as it is in opposition to 
many of your scholars and writers on your side 
of life. We were told to give our experiences in 
our own way. This I have done, and I thank you. 



CHAPTER XLVI 



A "little sister of the poor" 



ON earth I was a ' ' sister, ' ' 
And went from door to door; 
A member of the order 

Of "Little Sisters of the Poor. 



17 



As a girl I was gay and joyous, 
My parents thought me wild ; 

So in a convent placed me, 
I was their only child. 

I could have cursed them for it 
Before my spirit was cowed. 

At last as a penitent 

Before the Cross I bowed. 

No day did I have gladness, 
Nor girlhood's pleasures see. 

Yet sin I had never committed, 
From evil my heart was free. 

I longed for a home and children. 

I was starving just to hear 
The lips of a babe say mother, 

And whisper its love in my ear. 

Nature was strangled within me 
By men who taught, as a whole, 

We must torment the body 

For the lasting good of the soul. 



142 FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL 

Just live a life that's loving. 

Of no angry god have fear. 
Partake of innocent pleasures 

While you are living here. 

After many years here in this world of spirit 
that no pen can portray, I am enabled to tell the 
earthly friends the reason for my unhappiness. I 
have found it was a needed lesson for me to learn 
in order to fit myself for a broader and more use- 
ful life here and enable me to teach others. My 
object is to give my own experience and all the 
information I can about life here and where it is 
located. That heaven is a condition, dear friends, 
is true; if you are happy you realize heaven. 
Everything that has life has spirit. The material 
of all things is only the shell for the indwelling 
of spirit to manifest, first on earth for growth 
and experience, then to be cast aside for a higher 
and more beautiful life located all about you, as 
is the material world. You see a beautiful rose 
and few things can be lovelier. Here we have 
the spirit of the rose more beautiful still, for it 
is perfect and will never fade or wither. So it is 
with all nature. We cannot see the material of 
earth, but only the real or spiritual part. You 
cannot see the spiritual unless you develop this, 
and then you see with your own spiritual vision 
and not with the material. This faculty all pos- 
sess, but is developed in but few. The American 
Indians in their native state understood this bet- 
ter than any others, but are fast losing the power 
to converse with nature as they become civilized 
(so-called). All possess a spiritual counterpart 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 143 

that never grows old and which permeates and 
surrounds the body. You often feel a cold sensa- 
tion up and down your spine that causes you to 
shudder. This is spirit decarnate touching spirit 
incarnate. A medium is used by spirits to con- 
vey their knowledge to others who have not de- 
veloped sufficiently to be thus used themselves. 
I have found here all the happiness that I missed 
on earth. 

In a beautiful home in the city of Washington 
I was happy, as an only child with kind parents 
can be. But my parents were very religious and 
thought I was too wild. I was sixteen years of age 
and full of ambition and fun. There was no wick- 
edness in my nature. But my parents were 
wealthy and the Church of Eome desired their 
money. Certain officials set about trying to ob- 
tain it. Through designing priests and sisters — 
not all are like these — they made my parents be- 
lieve that the only way to keep their daughter 
from being lost was to persuade her to become a 
nun, and I was placed in a convent. I rebelled 
and caused them all kinds of trouble until I made 
bitter enemies among them. I defied them as 
long as I dared and my earthly body went into 
the grave with scars of the lash upon it that I re- 
ceived before I at last humbled myself and ac- 
cepted my fate. I lived it a few short years. 

But death released me early and I found I was 
right — that the spark of the Infinite was within 
and I needed no formality or sacrifice to be saved 
— that everything saves itself. 

I can now see with prophetic vision a new era 
dawning for the whole world. Monarch rule, rum 



144 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

and a false religion have had their day, and in a 
few years will be wiped from the face of the earth. 
New teachers will come forth from all over the 
world teaching nothing but the Golden Bule, and 
"Whatsoever a man soweth that also must he 
reap" — that each must bear the responsibility of 
every act of his life and that nothing can save 
men but their own right thinking, right doing and 
right living. This will save all souls from unhap- 
piness and this is all there is to be saved from. 
Hell is sorrow, pain and remorse for wrong doing 
and heaven is joy, peace and contentment, which 
are earned by well doing and which cannot be be- 
stowed upon anyone. Earth life is a school of 
instruction and should be realized and accepted 
as such. It is wise to improve every opportunity 
to learn while there, for knowledge is the only 
thing you can bring with you into this life. 

One needs just what one gets if he cannot over- 
come the conditions, as in my own case. I am not 
sorry now for the experience, for it taught me 
more in my short earth life than I should have 
gained had I lived the allotted time on earth. Then 
I would have had to live in spirit perhaps hun- 
dreds of years, as many do before they under- 
stand self and their own part in nature's or God's 
plans, for both are one. Do not live a life of self- 
ishness and expect the Holy Mother to pray for 
you and intercede for pardon for your sins and 
set you free from them. You will find yourself 
mistaken when you come here and understand. 
Here, with the searchlight of truth turned upon 
those of earth, it reveals you as you are. Great 
would be your surprise could you see as we do. 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 145 

There are on earth those who are living in such 
poverty that they do not know where the next meal 
is coming from, and look with envious eyes on 
the rich merchant and banker riding around in 
their limousines, yet how often are they living in 
a hell that the poverty-stricken ones can know 
nothing about. Oh! let me impress just this sim- 
ple message of right living upon you, that alone 
includes all there is of good ! 



CHAP TEE XL VII 

A DKEAM 

T DREAMED we built a temple ; 
A On every stone was placed 
A deed done by the giver, 
Which ne 'er could be effaced. 

Good deeds were writ in golden 
And shone with brilliance bright ; 

Bad deeds in letters scarlet, 
Both seen by day and night. 

You'd think great deeds were written 
And awful crimes you'd see; 

But no ; the} 7 were the smallest — 
As done by you and me. 

We saw in golden letters, 

Recorded near the door, 
A name of one — a giver 

From out his scanty store. 

And here was shown in scarlet, 

In a conspicuous place, 
The name of one who cheated, 

And for shame should hide his face. 

Another in scarlet letters, 

That ne'er could be erased, 
Was one who spread a falsehood 

Which caused a foul disgrace. 

And here in glitt'ring letters, 

Like diamonds all aglow, 
Was one who fed the birdlings 

When the ground was covered with snow. 



CHAPTER XLVIII 

HIS LAST MESSAGE 

A FEW years ago two men were riding 
along in an automobile near the city of Mem- 
phis. It was a beautiful summer day and the 
sun was shining brightly. One of the men no- 
ticed a man lying under the hedge near the road- 
side with the sun shining directly in his upturned 
face. They stopped their car and got out to in- 
vestigate. The man was dead. He was old and 
gray and poorly clad, with dissipation plainly 
written in every feature, but with a smile on his 
upturned face, as though his last vision on earth 
had been pleasant. One of the men stayed by the 
body while the other went to a beautiful old col- 
onial home called The Beeches, near by, to tele- 
phone the coroner. 

"Give me 287, please. This the coroner! 
There's a stiff lying out here under the hedge 
near The Beeches. Send a wagon out at once. 
No, no marks of violence. It is only an old vag 
who has cashed in. My name? It doesn't matter. 
A friend and I were passing in an automobile and 
discovered him. Good by." Thinking they had 
lost enough time from their pleasure trip, they 
got into their machine and rode away. In a short 
time the coroner arrived, placed the body in the 
wagon and took it to the morgue for identifica- 
tion. On examining the clothing the coroner was 
surprised to see that the undergarments were neat 
and clean, although the outer clothing was ragged 



148 FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL 

and dirty. Pinned to the undershirt was a cotton 
tobacco bag and inside this a roll of paper and a 
pencil. The coroner wonderingly unrolled the 
paper and read the following: 

DOWN AND OUT 

Whoever finds this paper 

A story it will tell 
Of one who tasted deeply 

Of heaven and of hell. 

At home with a loving mother 
My boyhood days were passed; 

And often I was wishing 
They evermore could last. 

I sometimes sat with pistol 

Pressed to my breast — and then, 

' l Brace up, Johnnie ; I 'm watching ; 
Don't do that thing again.' ' 

I tried to fight more bravely 
The demons that wanted rum; 

But, oh! how weak the spirit, 
Naught was I but a whisky bum. 

At night I heard my mother 

And felt her unseen hand. 
This filled me full of wonder, 

I could not understand. 

I thought death all things ended, 

But fain had passed me by, 
Yet each day found me wishing 

I could lay me down and die. 



■: 



FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 149 

Last night was sad and weary, 

To-night I am young and gay. 
Mother is standing by me 

And bids me this to say : 

"You may be down, my Johnnie, 

With not a friend on earth. 
Mother has never left you 

Since the day she gave you birth. 

"You've been my joy and pride, dear, 

For in your deepest heart 
Not one have you wronged ever, 

But oft have given a start. 

i ' Oft many have prayed for you 

To whom youVe lent a hand. 
All this your mother has known, 

A mother can understand. 

"I come to-night to guide you 

As led by nature's plans, 
Out in the great eternal 

To a world not made with hands. ' ' 



This message I leave to the finder and sign my- 
self— J. L. 

The coroner dropped the paper as though it had 
burned his fingers. On looking again closely into 
the face of the corpse he exclaimed, "My God! 
Johnnie Lowe! who had the distinction of be- 
ing the youngest soldier who marched with Sher- 
man to the sea, a hero of many battles and at 
one time the idol of this city. He was born in his 



150 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 

father's beautiful home, The Beeches, but dis- 
appeared many years ago and was never heard of 
again. Surely his mother was the guardian angel 
who guided his footsteps back to his old home to 
die. No potter's field for you, John Lowe, but a 
few of your old friends shall follow you to the 
cemetery, and this old body that contained the 
spirit of a man and a brave soldier shall rest in 
the grass-grown plot by the side of your father 
and mother and where a marble shaft now stands 
with a space left upon it for their only child. 



CHAPTER XLIX 

MESSAGE FKOM THE GUIDE 

I THE guide, who formed the "Washington 
y Band of Spirits ' ' for the purpose of bringing 
various spirits here to give their experiences 
which we thought would prove interesting, wish 
to say we are well pleased with the contents of 
this little volume. It contains the true experiences 
of these spirits. Their communicating in this J 
manner has helped many of them, and we hope 
it may be the means of helping many on earth to 
see the necessity of living the best they can under 
all circumstances. If you do this you need not 
fear death. You will come into your own especial 
place here that no other but yourself can fill. It 
all rests with you. The people here who are in- 
terested in you can do nothing unless you make 
the way possible and you can all do this if you 
wish. All people on earth are more or less me- 
diumistic; some in one phase, some in another. 
All spirits are the same living, loving individuals 
they were on earth. All desire to make themselves 
known to their friends on earth, but if those 
friends co-operate the work is made more easy 
and certain. Happiness on the spirit side is high- 
est and soonest found when life on earth has been 
most unselfish and most devoted to what is noble 
and true. Some in spirit life make no advance- 
ment for years simply because no, or but little, 



152 FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL 

advancement towards higher living was made on 
earth. If the experiences given in the preceding 
pages cause even a few to realize how much the 
condition of these entering the future world de- 
pends upon the habits formed and the kind of life 
lived on earth, the "Washington Band" will feel 
well repaid for its efforts. 

Our duty to our loved ones, 

To home and native land, 
Is the secret of right living, 

That each can understand. 

Then all will live as brothers, 
Each hand will join with hand; 

Then all will stand united 
In this broad and beauteous land. 

True faith is found in doing right, 

In the Golden Rule it lies ; 
It lifts the soul to a higher life, 

To a bliss above the skies. 













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